Compositions and methods for blood-brain barrier delivery of igg-decoy receptor fusion proteins

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are compositions and related methods for delivering an IgG-decoy receptor to the CNS. The methods include systemic administration of a bifunctional decoy receptor-BBB receptor antibody fusion antibody comprising a receptor extracellular domain (ECD) covalently linked to an antibody to a receptor expressed on the surface of the blood-brain barrier (BBB receptor). In some embodiments, the compositions described herein are administered to treat a subject suffering from a CNS condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/161,320, filed Mar. 18, 2009, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The soluble extracellular domain (ECD) of a target receptor, such as the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR), has therapeutic actions in human diseases. The receptor ECD acts as an exogenous decoy receptor, which sequesters the endogenous ligand, e.g. tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and thereby blocks access of the endogenous ligand to the endogenous target receptor. Decoy receptors could be powerful new treatments of brain diseases. However, decoy receptors, like other large molecule drugs, do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Thus, to date, it has not been possible to treat patients with brain disorders by systemic administration of recombinant decoy receptors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein are compositions and related methods for delivering IgG-receptor ECD (“decoy receptor”) fusion proteins across the BBB to the CNS in a subject in need thereof. In particular, the methods allow delivery of a decoy receptor to the CNS by systemically administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody that comprises a receptor ECD and an antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of a receptor expressed on the surface of BBB.

Accordingly, in one aspect provided herein is a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain immunoglobulin or a light chain immunoglobulin covalently linked to the amino acid sequence of a receptor extracellular domain, wherein the fusion antibody binds to a receptor expressed on the BBB and a ligand for the receptor extracellular domain. In some embodiments, the receptor expressed on the BBB is an insulin receptor, a transferrin receptor, or a lipoprotein receptor. In some embodiments, the receptor expressed on the BBB is a human insulin receptor. In some embodiments, the bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody competes for binding to the human insulin receptor with a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs 4 and 6, or SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 7. In some embodiments, the receptor extracellular domain is from a cytokine receptor, a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the receptor extracellular domain comprises a TNF-α receptor extracellular domain. In some cases, the TNF-α receptor extracellular domain comprises an amino acid sequence at least 85% (e.g., 90%, 95%, or 100%) identical to that of a human, mouse, rat, or pig TNF-α receptor extracellular domain. In certain embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the TNF-α receptor extracellular domain is fused to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin or the light chain immunoglobulin. In certain embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the TNF-α receptor extracellular domain is fused to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin.

In a related aspect provided herein is a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) that has a brain uptake that is more than 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 7% or 10% ID/100 gram protein. In some embodiments, the bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) exhibits a brain uptake that is more than 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 13-, 15-, 17-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, 40-, 45-, or 50-fold greater than the brain uptake of a fusion protein of a decoy receptor and the Fc fragment of human IgG, e.g., TNFR:Fc. In some embodiments, a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody described herein (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) is selectively enriched in the brain when compared to other organs. In some embodiments, when the ratio of the organ PS product for a decoy receptor-BBB receptor AB fusion antibody described herein (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) relative to the organ PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein is determined for multiple organs, the brain ratio is more than 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 13-, 15-, 17-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, 40-, 45-, or 50-fold greater than the fat, muscle, heart, lung, liver, and/or spleen ratio.

In a related aspect provided herein is a nucleic acid comprising: (i) a first sequence encoding a heavy chain immunoglobulin and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the heavy chain immunoglobulin; (ii) a second sequence encoding a light chain immunoglobulin and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the light chain immunoglobulin; or (iii) the complementary sequence of (i) or (ii); wherein the heavy chain and light chain immunoglobulin are from an antibody against a BBB receptor. In some embodiments, the encoded receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the encoded receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor (e.g., a human TNF-α receptor). In other embodiments, the encoded extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor comprises an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to that of a human, mouse, rat, or pig TNF-α receptor extracellular domain. In some embodiments, the encoded immunoglobulin heavy chain or light chain is from an antibody against the human insulin receptor, transferrin receptor, or lipoprotein receptor. In certain embodiments, the above-mentioned first sequence encodes an amino acid sequence at least 85% (e.g., 90%, 95%, or 100%) identical to the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NOs:4 or 7; or the above-mentioned second sequence encodes an amino acid sequence at least 85% (e.g., 90%, 95%, or 100%) identical to the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6. In other embodiments, the nucleic acid hybridizes, under high stringency conditions, to a nucleic acid encoding SEQ ID NOs 4, 6, or 7 (e.g., a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs 3 or 5). In some embodiments, the encoded extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin or the light chain immunoglobulin. In some embodiments, the encoded extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is provided as a nucleic acid vector. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid vector comprises: (i) a first sequence encoding a heavy chain immunoglobulin and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the heavy chain immunoglobulin; (ii) a second sequence encoding a light chain immunoglobulin and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the light chain immunoglobulin; or (iii) the complementary sequence of (i) or (ii); wherein the heavy chain and light chain immunoglobulin are from an antibody against a BBB receptor. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid vector comprises (i) and further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a light chain immunoglobulin from an antibody against the BBB receptor; or the nucleic acid comprises (ii) and further comprises a nucleic acid encoding a heavy chain immunoglobulin from an antibody against the BBB receptor. In a related aspect provided herein is a cell (e.g., a mammalian cell) comprising any of the above-mentioned nucleic acids.

In a further aspect provided herein is a method for delivering a decoy receptor across the blood brain barrier, comprising systemically administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain immunoglobulin or a light chain immunoglobulin covalently linked to the amino acid sequence of a receptor extracellular domain, wherein the fusion antibody binds to a receptor expressed on the BBB and the ligand for the receptor extracellular domain. In some embodiments, the receptor expressed on the BBB is an insulin receptor, a transferrin receptor, an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, a leptin receptor, or a lipoprotein receptor. In some embodiments, the receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin or the light chain immunoglobulin. In some embodiments, the extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin.

In another aspect provided herein is a method for treating a CNS condition, comprising systemically administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain immunoglobulin or a light chain immunoglobulin covalently linked to the amino acid sequence of a receptor extracellular domain, wherein the fusion antibody binds to a receptor expressed on the BBB and the ligand for the receptor extracellular domain. In some embodiments, the receptor expressed on the BBB is an insulin receptor, a transferrin receptor, an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, a leptin receptor, or a lipoprotein receptor. In some embodiments, the receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the CNS condition to be treated is an acute CNS condition, e.g., global brain ischemia, local brain ischemia, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury. In other embodiments, the CNS condition to be treated is a chronic CNS condition, e.g., a neurodegenerative condition such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, motor neuron disease. Pick's disease, tuberous sclerosis, Canavan's disease, Rett's syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxias, Friedreich's ataxia, optic atrophy, or retinal degeneration.

In yet another aspect provided herein is a method for manufacturing a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody, comprising stably integrating into a eukaryotic cell a single tandem expression vector encoding:

(i) both an immunoglobulin heavy chain fused to a receptor extracellular domain, and an immunoglobulin light chain; or

(ii), both an immunoglobulin light chain fused to a receptor extracellular domain, and an immunoglobulin heavy chain, wherein the encoded immunoglobulin heavy chain and immunoglobulin light chain are from an antibody against a receptor expressed on the BBB. In some embodiments, the receptor expressed on the BBB is an insulin receptor, a transferrin receptor, an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, a leptin receptor, or a lipoprotein receptor. In some embodiments, the encoded receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the immunoglobulin heavy chain or the immunoglobulin light chain. In some embodiments, the encoded extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the immunoglobulin heavy chain.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings, as follows:

FIG. 1. The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein is formed by fusion of the amino terminus of the TNFR ECD to the carboxyl terminus of the CH3 region of the heavy chain of the chimeric HIRMAb. The fusion protein is a bifunctional molecule: the fusion protein binds the HIR, at the BBB, to mediate transport into the brain, and binds TNFα, to suppress the inflammatory properties of this cytokine.

FIG. 2. (A) Ethidium bromide stain of agarose gel of human TNFR ECD cDNA (lane 1), which was produced by PCR from cDNA produced by reverse transcription of RNA from human U87 glial cells, and TNFR-specific ODN primers (Table 2). Lanes 2 and 3: DNA sizing standards. (B) Genetic engineering of pHIRMAb-TNFR, the eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding the fusion protein of TNFR ECD and the heavy chain (HC) of the chimeric HIRMAb. The fusion gene is 5′-flanked by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and 3′-flanked by the bovine growth hormone polyA (pA) sequence.

FIG. 3. Reducing SDS-PAGE and Coomasie blue staining of protein A affinity purified chimeric HIRMAb and the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. Both are purified to homogeneity and are comprised of a heavy chain and a light chain.

FIG. 4. Western blot with either anti-human (h) IgG primary antibody (left panel) or an anti-human TNFR-II primary antiserum (right panel). The immunoreactivity of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein is compared to the chimeric HIRMAb. Both the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein and the HIRMAb have identical light chains on the anti-hIgG Western. The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion heavy chain reacts with both the anti-hIgG and the anti-human TNFR antibody, whereas the HIRMAb heavy chain only reacts with the anti-hIgG antibody. The size of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion heavy chain is about 30 kDa larger than the size of the heavy chain of the HIRMAb, owing to the fusion of the 30 kDa TNFR ECD to the 55 kDa HIRMAb heavy chain.

FIG. 5. Binding of either the chimeric HIRMAb or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein to the HIR extracellular domain (ECD) is saturable. The ED50 of HIRMAb-TNFR binding to the HIR ECD is comparable to the ED50 of the binding of the chimeric HIRMAb.

FIG. 6. Binding of either the TNFR:Fc fusion protein (A) or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein (B) to the TNFα is saturable. There is no binding of human IgG1 to the TNFα, as shown in panel A. The slope of the linear regression analysis yields the KD/Amax ratio, where KD is the binding constant for TNFα and Amax is the maximal absorbance, and is a relative index of the KD of binding for TNFα. Both the TNFR:Fc fusion protein and the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein hind with comparable affinity to TNFα.

FIG. 7. (A) Outline of radio-receptor assay binding of TNFα to the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. A mouse anti-human (MAH) IgG1 Fc was plated, which bound the Fc region of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. The TNFR extracellular domain (ECD) region of the fusion protein then bound the [¹²⁵I]-TNFα, which was displaced by the addition of unlabeled TNFα. (B) The saturable binding was analyzed by a non-linear regression analysis to yield the concentration, K_(D), that gave 50% inhibition of TNFα binding to the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein.

FIG. 8. TNFα causes cytotoxicity in actinomycin D-treated human WEHI-13VAR cells with an ED50 of about 10 pg/mL. However, in the presence of either 1.4 nM TNFR:Fc or 1.4 nM HIRMAb-TNFR, there is no cytotoxicity caused by the high concentrations of TNFα.

FIG. 9. Genetic engineering of pTV-HIRMAb-TNFR, which is a tandem vector (TV) containing separate and tandem expression cassettes encoding both the heavy chain and light chain of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, each gene driven by separate and tandem intron bearing/CMV promoters, and each terminated by the bovine growth hormone (BGH) poly adenylation (pA) sequence. The pTV-HIRMAb-TNFR is generated by subcloning the TNFR ECD cDNA into a unique HpaI site at the 3′-terminus of the HIRMAb HC cassette within the universal TV encoding the HIRMAb, designated pTV-HIRMAb. The TNFR ECD cDNA was produced by PCR using the pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR plasmid (FIG. 2B) as template.

FIG. 10. Domain structure of heavy chain of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. The 19 amino acid IgG signal peptide is followed by the VH of the HIRMAb heavy chain, which is comprised of 3 CDRs (CDR1, CDR2, CDR3) and 4 FRs (FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4), which is followed by the domains (CH1, hinge, CH2, CH3) of the human IgG1 heavy chain C-region, which is followed by a 3-amino acid linker (Ser-Ser-Ser), which is followed by the 235-amino acid sequence of the human TNFR-II ECD. The 3 N-linked glycosylation sites are underlined, and include 1 site within the CH2 region and 2 sites within the TNFR region.

FIG. 11. Domain structure of light chain of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. The 20 amino acid IgG signal peptide is followed by the VL of the HIRMAb light chain, which is comprised of 3 CDRs (CDR1, CDR2, CDR3) and 4 FRs (FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4), which is followed by the human kappa light chain C-region

FIG. 12. (A) The plasma concentration of [¹²⁵I]J-TNFR:Fc fusion protein and [³H]-HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein is plotted vs the time after a single intravenous injection of the proteins in the adult Rhesus monkey. Data are expressed as % injected dose (I.D.)/mL. (B) The % of plasma radioactivity that is precipitable by 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is plotted vs. the time after injection for both proteins. Data are mean±SE (n=3 replicates per point).

FIG. 13. The plasma area under the concentration curve or AUC (A), the brain uptake or % injected dose (I.D.) per 100 gram brain (B), and the BBB permeability-surface area (PS) product (C), are plotted for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, for the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, and a brain plasma volume marker, human IgG1 (hIgG1). All measurements were made at 2 hours after intravenous administration of the protein. Data are mean±SE (n=3 replicates per point).

FIG. 14. Ratio of the organ PS product for the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, relative to the organ PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, is plotted for each organ. Data are mean±SE (n=3 replicates per point). The ratio for brain is the mean of the values for frontal gray matter, frontal white matter, cerebellar gray matter, and cerebellar white matter, which varied between 22-37.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Introduction

II. Some Definitions

III. The blood brain barrier

IV. Decoy Receptor Fusion Antibodies for transport across the BBB

V. Compositions

VI. Nucleic acids, vectors, cells, and manufacture

VII. Methods

VIII. Examples

IX. Sequences

ABBREVIATIONS

-   -   AA amino acid     -   BBB blood-brain barrier     -   BCA bicinchoninic acid     -   BGH bovine growth hormone     -   CDR complementarity determining region     -   CHO Chinese hamster ovary     -   CMV cytomegalovirus     -   DC dilutional cloning     -   DHFR dihydrofolate reductase     -   ECD extracellular domain     -   ED50 effective dose causing 50% saturation     -   FR framework region     -   FS flanking sequence     -   FWD forward     -   HC heavy chain     -   HIR human insulin receptor     -   HIRMAb MAb to HIR     -   HIRMAb HC heavy chain of HIRMAb     -   HIRMAb LC light chain of HIRMAb     -   HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein of HIRMAb and TNFR ECD, where the         TNFR is fused to the HC carboxyl terminus     -   HT hypoxanthine-thymidine     -   IgG immunoglobulin G     -   IGF insulin-like growth factor     -   LC light chain     -   MAb monoclonal antibody     -   MAH mouse anti-human IgG     -   MTX methotrexate     -   MW molecular weight     -   N asparagine     -   nt nucleotide     -   ODN oligodeoxynucleotide     -   orf open reading frame     -   pA poly-adenylation     -   PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     -   PBS phosphate buffered saline     -   PBST PBS plus Tween-20     -   PCR polymerase chain reaction     -   pI isoelectric point     -   R receptor     -   REV reverse     -   RNase A ribonuclease A     -   RT reverse transcriptase     -   RT room temperature     -   SDM site-directed mutagenesis     -   SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     -   SEC size exclusion chromatography     -   Ser serine     -   SFM serum free medium     -   TH Trojan horse     -   TNF tumor necrosis factor     -   TNFR TNF receptor     -   TV tandem vector     -   UTV universal TV     -   VH variable region of heavy chain     -   VL variable region of light chain

I. INTRODUCTION

Genetically engineered decoy receptors are powerful new therapeutics, particularly when the receptor ECD is fused to the amino terminus of the Fc fragment of a human immunoglobulin G, such as IgG1. The Fc fragment is a dimeric protein of two constant region chains. As most receptors form dimers within the membrane, fusion of a receptor ECD to an Fc fragment permits the native dimeric configuration of the receptor protein. One well described example of a decoy receptor is the TNFα decoy receptor-Fc fusion protein. The TNFα decoy receptor-Fc fusion protein is a powerful biologic therapeutic for peripheral inflammatory conditions due to its ability to sequester the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNFα, which thereby inhibits activation of the endogenous TNFR by its endogenous ligand. However, the TNFR:Fc fusion protein cannot be prescribed for CNS conditions.

The blood brain barrier is a severe impediment to the delivery of systemically administered soluble decoy receptors to the central nervous system, where they act to neutralize certain ligands (e.g., TNF-α) that play a role in some neuropathologies. e.g., neuroinflammation. The compositions and methods described herein address three factors that are important in delivering decoy receptors across the BBB to the CNS: 1) modification of a receptor extracellular domain (ECD), referred to herein as a “decoy receptor,” to allow it to cross the BBB; 2) the amount and rate of uptake of systemically administered modified IgG-receptor fusion antibodies into the CNS, and 3) retention of decoy receptor activity once across the BBB. Various aspects of the methods and compositions described herein address these factors, by providing fusion antibodies, that can be administered systemically, comprising a decoy receptor fused, with or without an intervening linker sequence, to an immunoglobulin (heavy chain or light chain) directed against the extracellular domain of a receptor (e.g., a human insulin receptor) expressed on the BBB.

Accordingly, the invention provides compositions and methods for delivering a decoy receptor (e.g., a soluble TNF-α receptor ECD) to the central nervous system of a subject in need. e.g., a subject suffering from or at high risk of CNS inflammation, by systemically administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising an antibody against a receptor expressed on the BBB (e.g., an hIR) and a receptor ECD (e.g., human TNF-α receptor ECD).

II. SOME DEFINITIONS

The term “antibody” describes an immunoglobulin whether natural or partly or wholly synthetically produced. The term also covers any polypeptide or protein having a binding domain which is, or is homologous to, an antigen-binding domain. CDR grafted antibodies are also contemplated by this term.

“Native antibodies” and “native immunoglobulins” are usually heterotetrameric glycoproteins of about 150,000 daltons, composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains. Each light chain is typically linked to a heavy chain by one covalent disulfide bond, while the number of disulfide linkages varies among the heavy chains of different immunoglobulin isotypes. Each heavy and light chain also has regularly spaced intrachain disulfide bridges. Each heavy chain has at one end a variable domain (“VH”) followed by a number of constant domains (“CH”). Each light chain has a variable domain at one end (“VL”) and a constant domain (“CL”) at its other end; the constant domain of the light chain is aligned with the first constant domain of the heavy chain, and the light-chain variable domain is aligned with the variable domain of the heavy chain. Particular amino acid residues are believed to form an interface between the light- and heavy-chain variable domains.

The term “variable domain” refers to protein domains that differ extensively in sequence among family members (i.e. among different isoforms, or in different species). With respect to antibodies, the term “variable domain” refers to the variable domains of antibodies that are used in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody for its particular antigen. However, the variability is not evenly distributed throughout the variable domains of antibodies. It is concentrated in three segments called hypervariable regions both in the light chain and the heavy chain variable domains. The more highly conserved portions of variable domains are called the “framework region” or “FR”. The variable domains of unmodified heavy and light chains each comprise four FRs (FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4, respectively), largely adopting a β-sheet configuration, connected by three hypervariable regions, which form loops connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the β-sheet structure. The hypervariable regions in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FRs and, with the hypervariable regions from the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site of antibodies (see Kabat et al., (1991), Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., pages 647-669). The constant domains are not involved directly in binding an antibody to an antigen, but exhibit various effector functions, such as participation of the antibody in antibody-dependent cellular toxicity.

The term “hypervariable region” when used herein refers to the amino acid residues of an antibody which are responsible for antigen-binding. The hypervariable region comprises amino acid residues from three “complementarity determining regions” or “CDRs”, which directly bind, in a complementary manner, to an antigen and are known as CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 respectively. In the light chain variable domain, the CDRs typically correspond to approximately residues 24-34 (CDRL1), 50-56 (CDRL2) and 89-97 (CDRL3), and in the heavy chain variable domain the CDRs typically correspond to approximately residues 31-35 (CDRH1), 50-65 (CDRH2) and 95-102 (CDRH3); Kabat et al., (1991), Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.) and/or those residues from a “hypervariable loop” (i.e. residues 26-32 (L1), 50-52 (L2) and 91-96 (L3) in the light chain variable domain and 26-32 (H1), 53-55 (H2) and 96-101 (H3) in the heavy chain variable domain; Chothia and Lesk, (1987), J. Mol. Biol., 196:901-917.

As used herein, “variable framework region” or “VFR” refers to framework residues that form a part of the antigen binding pocket or groove and/or that may contact antigen. In some embodiments, the framework residues form a loop that is a part of the antigen binding pocket or groove. The amino acids residues in the loop may or may not contact the antigen. In an embodiment, the loop amino acids of a VFR are determined by inspection of the three-dimensional structure of an antibody, antibody heavy chain, or antibody light chain. The three-dimensional structure can be analyzed for solvent accessible amino acid positions as such positions are likely to form a loop and/or provide antigen contact in an antibody variable domain. Some of the solvent accessible positions can tolerate amino acid sequence diversity and others (e.g. structural positions) can be less diversified. The three dimensional structure of the antibody variable domain can be derived from a crystal structure or protein modeling. In some embodiments, the VFR comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of amino acid positions corresponding to amino acid positions 71 to 78 of the heavy chain variable domain, the positions defined according to Kabat et al., 1991. In some embodiments, VFR forms a portion of Framework Region 3 located between CDRH2 and CDRH3. The VFR can form a loop that is well positioned to make contact with a target antigen or form a part of the antigen binding pocket.

Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of their heavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes. There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these can be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgA2. The heavy-chain constant domains (Fc) that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called α, δ, ε, γ, and μ, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well known.

The “light chains” of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from any vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two clearly distinct types, called kappa or (“κ”) and lambda or (“λ”), based on the amino acid sequences of their constant domains.

In referring to an antibody or fusion antibody described herein, the terms “selectively bind,” “selectively binding,” “specifically binds,” or “specifically binding” refer to binding to the antibody or fusion antibody to its target antigen for which the dissociation constant (Kd) is about 10⁻⁶ M or lower, i.e., 10⁻⁷, 10⁻⁸, 10⁻⁹, 10⁻¹⁰, 10⁻¹¹, or 10⁻¹² M.

The term antibody as used herein will also be understood to mean one or more fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to specifically bind to an antigen, (see generally, Holliger et al., (2005), Nature Biotech., 23(9): 1126-1129). Non-limiting examples of such antibodies include (i) a Fab fragment, a monovalent fragment consisting of the VL, VH, CL and CH1 domains; (ii) a F(ab′)2 fragment, a bivalent fragment comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) a Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CH1 domains; (iv) a Fv fragment consisting of the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an antibody, (v) a dAb fragment (Ward et al., (1989) Nature, 341:544 546), which consists of a VH domain; and (vi) an isolated complementarity determining region (CDR). Furthermore, although the two domains of the Fv fragment, VL and VH, are coded for by separate genes, they can be joined, using recombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the VL and VH regions pair to form monovalent molecules (known as single chain Fv (scFv); see e.g., Bird et al., (1988) Science, 242:423 426; and Huston et al., (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:5879 5883; and Osbourn et al., (1998), Nat. Biotechnol., 16:778). Such single chain antibodies are also intended to be encompassed within the term antibody. Any VH and VL sequences of specific scFv can be linked to human immunoglobulin constant region cDNA or genomic sequences, in order to generate expression vectors encoding complete IgG molecules or other isotypes. VH and VL can also be used in the generation of Fab, Fv or other fragments of immunoglobulins using either protein chemistry or recombinant DNA technology. Other forms of single chain antibodies, such as diabodies are also encompassed.

“F(ab′)2” and “Fab′” moieties can be produced by treating immunoglobulin (monoclonal antibody) with a protease such as pepsin and papain, and includes an antibody fragment generated by digesting immunoglobulin near the disulfide bonds existing between the hinge regions in each of the two H chains. For example, papain cleaves IgG upstream of the disulfide bonds existing between the hinge regions in each of the two H chains to generate two homologous antibody fragments in which an L chain composed of VL (L chain variable region) and CL (L chain constant region), and an H chain fragment composed of VH (H chain variable region) and CHγ1 (γ1 region in the constant region of H chain) are connected at their C terminal regions through a disulfide bond. Each of these two homologous antibody fragments is called Fab′. Pepsin also cleaves IgG downstream of the disulfide bonds existing between the hinge regions in each of the two H chains to generate an antibody fragment slightly larger than the fragment in which the two above-mentioned Fab′ are connected at the hinge region. This antibody fragment is called F(ab′)2.

The Fab fragment also contains the constant domain of the light chain and the first constant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain. Fab′ fragments differ from Fab fragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxyl terminus of the heavy chain CH1 domain including one or more cysteine(s) from the antibody hinge region. Fab′-SH is the designation herein for Fab′ in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group. F(ab′)2 antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab′ fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.

“Fv” is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a complete antigen-recognition and antigen-binding site. This region consists of a dimer of one heavy chain and one light chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. It is in this configuration that the three hypervariable regions of each variable domain interact to define an antigen-binding site on the surface of the VH-VL dimer. Collectively, the six hypervariable regions confer antigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a single variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three hypervariable regions specific for an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the entire binding site.

“Single-chain Fv” or “sFv” antibody fragments comprise a VH, a VL, or both a VH and VL domain of an antibody, wherein both domains are present in a single polypeptide chain. In some embodiments, the Fv polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide linker between the VH and VL domains which enables the sFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding. For a review of sFv see. e.g., Pluckthun in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, Vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269 315 (1994).

A “chimeric” antibody includes an antibody derived from a combination of different mammalian sources. The mammal may be, for example, a rabbit, a mouse, a rat, a goat, or a human. The combination of different mammals includes combinations of fragments from human and mouse sources.

In some embodiments, an antibody of the present invention is a monoclonal antibody (MAb), typically a chimeric human-mouse antibody derived by humanization of a mouse monoclonal antibody. Such antibodies are obtained from, e.g., transgenic mice that have been “engineered” to produce specific human antibodies in response to antigenic challenge. In this technique, elements of the human heavy and light chain locus are introduced into strains of mice derived from embryonic stem cell lines that contain targeted disruptions of the endogenous heavy chain and light chain loci. The transgenic mice can synthesis human antibodies specific for human antigens, and the mice can be used to produce human antibody-secreting hybridomas.

“Treatment” or “treating” as used herein includes achieving a therapeutic benefit and/or a prophylactic benefit. By therapeutic benefit is meant eradication or amelioration of the underlying disorder or condition being treated. A prophylactic benefit of treatment includes reducing the risk of a condition, retarding the progress of, or decreasing the likelihood of occurrence of a condition. As used herein, “treating” or “treatment” includes prophylaxis.

As used herein, the term “effective amount” can be an amount, which when administered systemically, is sufficient to effect beneficial or desired results in the CNS. An effective amount is also an amount that produces a prophylactic effect, e.g., an amount that delays, reduces, or eliminates the appearance of an acute pathological or undesired condition. An effective amount can be administered in one or more administrations. In terms of treatment, an “effective amount” of a composition of the invention is an amount that is sufficient to palliate, ameliorate, stabilize, reverse or slow the progression of a disorder, e.g., a neurological disorder. An “effective amount” may be of any of the compositions of the invention used alone or in conjunction with one or more agents used to treat a disease or disorder. An “effective amount” of a therapeutic agent within the meaning of the present invention will be determined by a patient's attending physician or veterinarian. Such amounts are readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the art and will a therapeutic effect when administered in accordance with the present invention.

The term “molecular trojan horse,” as used herein, refers to a molecule that is transported across the BBB, and is capable of acting as a ferry for trans-BBB transport into the CNS when linked covalently or non-covalently to another molecule that does not cross the BBB on its own. Examples of a molecular trojan horse include, but are not limited to, polypeptides (e.g., antibodies) that bind to the ECD of receptors expressed on the BBB, e.g., insulin receptors, transferrin receptors, IGF receptors, lipoprotein receptors, or leptin receptors.

A “subject” or an “individual,” as used herein, is an animal, for example, a mammal. In some embodiments a “subject” or an “individual” is a human. In some non-limiting embodiments, the subject suffers from a chronic or acute CNS condition.

In some embodiments, a pharmacological composition comprising a decoy receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is “administered peripherally” or “peripherally administered.” As used herein, these terms refer to any form of administration of an agent, e.g., a therapeutic agent, to an individual that is not direct administration to the CNS, i.e., that brings the agent in contact with the non-brain side of the blood-brain barrier. “Peripheral administration,” as used herein, includes intravenous, intra-arterial, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, transdermal, by inhalation, transbuccal, intranasal, rectal, oral, parenteral, sublingual, or trans-nasal.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient” herein refers to any carrier that does not itself induce the production of antibodies harmful to the individual receiving the composition. Such carriers are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers/excipients can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gennaro, A R, ed., 20th edition, 2000: Williams and Wilkins P A, USA. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can include salts, for example, mineral acid salts such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, phosphates, sulfates, and the like; and the salts of organic acids such as acetates, propionates, malonates, benzoates, and the like. For example, compositions of the invention may be provided in liquid form, and formulated in saline based aqueous solution of varying pH (5-8), with or without detergents such polysorbate-80 at 0.01-1%, or carbohydrate additives, such mannitol, sorbitol or trehalose. Commonly used buffers include histidine, acetate, phosphate, or citrate.

A “recombinant host cell” or “host cell” refers to a cell that includes an exogenous polynucleotide, regardless of the method used for insertion, for example, direct uptake, transduction, f-mating, or other methods known in the art to create recombinant host cells. The exogenous polynucleotide may be maintained as a nonintegrated vector, for example, a plasmid, or alternatively, may be integrated into the host genome.

The terms “polypeptide,” “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. That is, a description directed to a polypeptide applies equally to a description of a peptide and a description of a protein, and vice versa. The terms apply to naturally occurring amino acid polymers as well as amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residues is a non-naturally occurring amino acid, e.g., an amino acid analog. As used herein, the terms encompass amino acid chains of any length, including full length proteins (i.e., antigens), wherein the amino acid residues are linked by covalent peptide bonds.

The term “amino acid” refers to naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acid mimetics that function in a manner similar to the naturally occurring amino acids. Naturally encoded amino acids are the 20 common amino acids (alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine) and pyrolysine and selenocysteine. Amino acid analogs refers to compounds that have the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid, i.e., an a carbon that is bound to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and an R group, such as, homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, methionine methyl sulfonium. Such analogs have modified R groups (such as, norleucine) or modified peptide backbones, but retain the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid.

Amino acids may be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, may be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes.

The term “nucleic acid” refers to deoxyribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleosides, ribonucleosides, or ribonucleotides and polymers thereof in either single- or double-stranded form. Unless specifically limited, the term encompasses nucleic acids containing known analogues of natural nucleotides which have similar binding properties as the reference nucleic acid and are metabolized in a manner similar to naturally occurring nucleotides. Unless specifically limited otherwise, the term also refers to oligonucleotide analogs including PNA (peptidonucleic acid), analogs of DNA used in antisense technology (phosphorothioates, phosphoroamidates, and the like). Unless otherwise indicated, a particular nucleic acid sequence also implicitly encompasses conservatively modified variants thereof (including but not limited to, degenerate codon substitutions) and complementary sequences as well as the sequence explicitly indicated. Specifically, degenerate codon substitutions may be achieved by generating sequences in which the third position of one or more selected (or all) codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues (Batzer et al., (1991), Nucleic Acid Res., 19:5081; Ohtsuka et al., (1985), J. Biol. Chem., 260:2605-2608; and Rossolini et al., (1994), Mol. Cell. Probes 8:91-98).

The terms “isolated” and “purified” refer to a material that is substantially or essentially removed from or concentrated in its natural environment. For example, an isolated nucleic acid may be one that is separated from the nucleic acids that normally flank it or other nucleic acids or components (proteins, lipids, etc.) in a sample. In another example, a polypeptide is purified if it is substantially removed from or concentrated in its natural environment. Methods for purification and isolation of nucleic acids and proteins are well known in the art.

The term “BBB receptor Ab,” refers to an antibody against the extracellular domain of a receptor expressed on the blood-brain barrier. Non-limiting examples of BBB receptors include insulin receptor (e.g. human insulin receptor), transferrin receptor, lipoprotein receptor, and leptin receptor.

III. THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER

The BBB is formed by tight junctions that cement together the endothelial cells that form the capillaries of the brain and spinal cord (Pardridge, 2008, Bioconj Chem, 19: 1327-1338). There are 400 miles of brain capillaries in the human brain. The electrical resistance across the brain capillary endothelial plasma membrane, which forms the BBB in vivo, is as high as in any biological membrane. The usual para-cellular and trans-cellular pathways for free solute exchange between the blood and an organ are absent in the CNS. Consequently, a drug in blood can access brain only via 1 of 2 mechanisms: (i) free diffusion owing to high lipid solubility of small molecules, and (ii) transport via an endogenous BBB transporter. One approach to solving the BBB drug delivery problem for decoy receptor compositions is to re-engineer the decoy receptor so that it can access certain endogenous transport systems within the BBB. The methods described herein permit a functional decoy receptor to cross the BBB from the peripheral blood into the CNS following systemic administration of a decoy receptor fusion antibody composition described herein. The methods described herein exploit the expression receptors expressed on the surface of the BB (e.g., human insulin receptors) to shuttle the desired bifunctional receptor ECD-BBB receptor fusion antibody from peripheral blood into the CNS.

IV. DECOY RECEPTOR FUSION ANTIBODIES FOR TRANSPORT ACROSS THE BBB

In one aspect, the invention provides compositions and methods that utilize a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody that contains the amino acid sequence of a receptor ECD (e.g., a human TNF-α receptor ECD) covalently linked to the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain immunoglobulin or a light chain immunoglobulin. Such bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibodies can bind to a receptor expressed on the BBB and a ligand for the receptor ECD. The compositions and methods are useful in transporting a decoy receptor from the peripheral blood and across the BBB into the CNS.

The BBB has been shown to have specific receptors that allow the transport from the blood to the brain of several macromolecules; these transporters are suitable as transporters for compositions of the invention. Endogenous BBB receptor-mediated transport systems useful in the invention include, but are not limited to, those that transport insulin, transferrin, insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF1 and IGF2), leptin, and lipoproteins. In some embodiments, the invention utilizes an antibody that is capable of crossing the BBB via the endogenous insulin BBB receptor-mediated transport system. e.g., the human endogenous insulin BBB receptor-mediated transport system. In some embodiments, the bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprises an HIR antibody. The decoy receptor-HIRAb fusion antibodies described herein bind to the ECD of the human insulin receptor. In some embodiments, the decoy receptor ECD is fused to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin (e.g., a HIRAb heavy chain immunoglobulin). In other embodiments, the decoy receptor ECD is fused to the C-terminus of the light chain immunoglobulin (e.g., a HIRAb light chain immunoglobulin). In some cases, the above-mentioned receptor ECD contains an amino acid sequence at least 80% (e.g., 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 99%, or another percent identical from at least 80% to 100% identical to an ECD from a human, mouse, rat, or pig cytokine receptor, TNF-α receptor, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, IL-6 receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned receptor ECD is from a cytokine receptor. In some embodiments, the receptor ECD contains a TNF-α receptor domain (e.g., a human TNF-α receptor ECD). GenBank accession numbers for the amino acid sequences of the above-mentioned receptors are provided in table 1 below.

TABLE 1 GenBank Accession Numbers for Receptors from Various Species Receptor Human Mouse Rat Pig TNF-α NP_001056 AY541589.1 AAK53563 NP_999134 TRAIL NP_003835 NP_064671 ACL51000.1 XP_001926758.1 TWEAK NP_057723.1 NP_038777.1 NP_851600.1 NP_001136311.1 IL-6 NP_000556.1 NP_034689.2 NP_058716.2 NP_999568.1 VEGF NP_002010.2 NP_034358.2 NP_062179.1 XP_001925775.1 Ephrin NP_005223.4 NP_076069.2 NP_001101328.1 NP_001128439.1

Insulin receptors and their extracellular, insulin binding domain (ECD) have been extensively characterized in the art both structurally and functionally. See. e.g., Yip et al., (2003), J. Biol. Chem., 278(30):27329-27332; and Whittaker et al., (2005), J. Biol. Chem., 280(22):20932-20936. The amino acid and nucleotide sequences of the human insulin receptor can be found under GenBank accession No. NM_000208.

Insulin receptors expressed on the BBB can thereby serve as a vector for transport of a decoy receptor, e.g., a TNF-α receptor ECD, across the BBB. Certain insulin receptor ECD-specific antibodies may mimic the endogenous ligand and thereby traverse a plasma membrane barrier via transport on the specific receptor system. In certain embodiments, a receptor decoy-HIRAb fusion antibody binds an exofacial epitope on the human BBB HIR and this binding enables the fusion antibody to traverse the BBB via a transport reaction that is mediated by the human BBB insulin receptor.

For use in humans, a chimeric HIR Ab is preferred that contains enough human sequence that it is not significantly immunogenic when administered to humans, e.g., about 80% human and about 20% mouse, or about 85% human and about 15% mouse, or about 90% human and about 10% mouse, or about 95% human and 5% mouse, or greater than about 95% human and less than about 5% mouse. Chimeric antibodies to the human BBB insulin receptor with sufficient human sequences for use in the invention are described in, e.g., Boado et al., (2007), Biotechnol Bioeng, 96(2):381-391. A more highly humanized form of the HIRMAb can also be engineered, and the humanized HIR Ab has activity comparable to the murine HIR Ab and can be used in embodiments of the invention. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 20040101904, filed Nov. 27, 2002 and 20050142141, filed Feb. 17, 2005.

In exemplary embodiments, bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibodies compete for binding to the human insulin receptor with a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody containing the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs 4 and 6, or SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 7. In some cases, the competing bifunctional decoy receptor has an affinity for the human insulin receptor that is at least about 20%, e.g., 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or another percent from at least about 20% to 100% identical to a functional decoy receptor fusion antibody containing the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs 4 and 6, or SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 7. In other embodiments, the bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody contains amino acid sequences that are least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or some other percent identical from at least about 80% to about 100% identical to SEQ ID NOs 4 and 6, or SEQ ID NOs 6 and 7.

BBB receptor antibodies used in the invention may be glycosylated or non-glycosylated. If the antibody is glycosylated, any pattern of glycosylation that does not significantly affect the function of the antibody may be used. Glycosylation can occur in the pattern typical of the cell in which the antibody is made, and may vary from cell type to cell type. For example, the glycosylation pattern of a monoclonal antibody produced by a mouse myeloma cell can be different than the glycosylation pattern of a monoclonal antibody produced by a transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell. In some embodiments, the antibody is glycosylated in the pattern produced by a transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that current technologies permit a vast number of sequence variants of BBB receptor Abs or decoy receptor ECDs to be readily generated (e.g., in vitro) and screened for binding to a target antigen such as the ECD of the human insulin receptor or for binding to a ligand of the decoy receptor ECD. See, e.g., Fukuda et al., (2006), Nuc. Acid Res., 34(19) (published online) for an example of ultra high throughput screening of antibody sequence variants. See also, Chen et al., (1999), Prot Eng, 12(4): 349-356. In order to isolate sequence variants, random mutagenesis of the entire sequence or specific subsequences corresponding to particular domains may be performed. Alternatively, site directed mutagenesis can be performed reiteratively while avoiding mutations to residues known to be critical to BBB receptor or decoy receptor ligand binding. For example, the structure function of the TNF-α receptor is known in the art as described in, e.g., Mukai et al (2009), J Mol Biol, 385(4): 1221-1229. Further, in generating multiple variants of a decoy receptor ECD sequence such as that of the human TNF-α receptor, mutation tolerance prediction programs can be used to greatly reduce the number of non-functional sequence variants that would be generated by strictly random mutagenesis. Various programs for predicting the effects of amino acid substitutions in a protein sequence on protein function (e.g., SIFT, PolyPhen, PANTHER PSEC, PMUT, and TopoSNP) are described in, e.g., Henikoff et al., (2006), Annu. Rev. Genomics Hum. Genet., 7:61-80. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a very large number of operable decoy receptor ECD sequence variants can be obtained by generating and screening extremely diverse “libraries” of decoy receptor (e.g., human TNF-α receptor ECD sequences) sequence variants by methods that are routine in the art, as described above.

Percent sequence identity is determined by conventional methods. See, for example, Altschul et al., (1986), Bull. Math. Bio., 48:603, and Henikoff and Henikoff, (1992), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:10915. Briefly, two amino acid sequences are aligned to optimize the alignment scores using a gap opening penalty of 10, a gap extension penalty of 1, and the “BLOSUM62” scoring matrix of Henikoff and Henikoff (supra). The percent identity is then calculated as: ([Total number of identical matches]/[length of the longer sequence plus the number of gaps introduced into the longer sequence in order to align the two sequences])(100).

Those skilled in the art appreciate that there are many established algorithms available to align two amino acid sequences. The “FASTA” similarity search algorithm of Pearson and Lipman is a suitable protein alignment method for examining the level of identity shared by an amino acid sequence disclosed herein and the amino acid sequence of another peptide. The FASTA algorithm is described by Pearson et al., (1988), Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA, 85:2444, and by Pearson (1990), Meth. Enymol. 183:63. Briefly, FASTA first characterizes sequence similarity by identifying regions shared by the query sequence (e.g., SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 6) and a test sequence that have either the highest density of identities (if the ktup variable is 1) or pairs of identities (if ktup=2), without considering conservative amino acid substitutions, insertions, or deletions. The ten regions with the highest density of identities are then rescored by comparing the similarity of all paired amino acids using an amino acid substitution matrix, and the ends of the regions are “trimmed” to include only those residues that contribute to the highest score. If there are several regions with scores greater than the “cutoff” value (calculated by a predetermined formula based upon the length of the sequence and the ktup value), then the trimmed initial regions are examined to determine whether the regions can be joined to form an approximate alignment with gaps. Finally, the highest scoring regions of the two amino acid sequences are aligned using a modification of the Needleman-Wunsch-Sellers algorithm (Needleman et al., (1970), J. Mol. Biol, 48:444; Sellers (1974), SIAM J. Appl. Math., 26:787, which allows for amino acid insertions and deletions. Illustrative parameters for FASTA analysis are: ktup=1, gap opening penalty=10, gap extension penalty=1, and substitution matrix=BLOSUM62. These parameters can be introduced into a FASTA program by modifying the scoring matrix file (“SMATRIX”), as explained in Appendix 2 of Pearson, (1990), Meth. Enzymol., 183:63.

The present invention also includes proteins having a conservative amino acid change, compared with an amino acid sequence disclosed herein. Among the common amino acids, for example, a “conservative amino acid substitution” is illustrated by a substitution among amino acids within each of the following groups: (1) glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine, (2) phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, (3) serine and threonine, (4) aspartate and glutamate, (5) glutamine and asparagine, and (6) lysine, arginine and histidine. The BLOSUM62 table is an amino acid substitution matrix derived from about 2,000 local multiple alignments of protein sequence segments, representing highly conserved regions of more than 500 groups of related proteins (Henikoff et al., (1992), Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci., USA, 89:10915. Accordingly, the BLOSUM62 substitution frequencies can be used to define conservative amino acid substitutions that may be introduced into the amino acid sequences of the present invention. Although it is possible to design amino acid substitutions based solely upon chemical properties (as discussed above), the language “conservative amino acid substitution” preferably refers to a substitution represented by a BLOSUM62 value of greater than −1. For example, an amino acid substitution is conservative if the substitution is characterized by a BLOSUM62 value of 0, 1, 2, or 3. According to this system, preferred conservative amino acid substitutions are characterized by a BLOSUM62 value of at least 1 (e.g., 1, 2 or 3), while more preferred conservative amino acid substitutions are characterized by a BLOSUM62 value of at least 2 (e.g., 2 or 3).

It also will be understood that amino acid sequences may include additional residues, such as additional N- or C-terminal amino acids, and yet still be essentially as set forth in one of the sequences disclosed herein, so long as the sequence retains sufficient biological protein activity to be functional in the compositions and methods of the invention.

V. COMPOSITIONS

Strikingly, it has been found that the bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibodies described herein retain a high proportion of the activity of their separate constituent proteins, i.e., binding of the BBB receptor Ab to the BBB receptor, e.g., the human insulin receptor ECD, and binding of the decoy receptor ECD (e.g., a TNF-α receptor to a cognate ligand).

Described herein are bifunctional decoy receptor-BBB receptor fusion antibodies containing a BBB receptor Ab capable of crossing the BBB fused to a decoy receptor ECD, where the BBB receptor Ab capable of crossing the blood brain barrier and the receptor ECD each retain an average of at least about 5, 10, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 40, 45, or 50% of their activities, compared to their activities as separate entities. Examples of BBB receptor Abs include Abs (e.g. monoclonal Abs) against an insulin receptor (e.g., human insulin receptor), transferrin receptor, and a lipoprotein receptor. Examples of suitable receptor ECDs include, but are not limited to, those contains an amino acid sequence at least 80% (e.g., 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 99%, or another percent identical from at least 80% to 100% identical to a human, mouse, rat, or pig cytokine receptor, TNF-α receptor, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, IL-6 receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or ephrin receptor.

In some embodiments the BBB receptor Ab is an antibody to the ECD of the human insulin receptor (HIR). In the bifunctional decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibodies described herein, the covalent linkage between the RBB receptor antibody and the receptor ECD may be to the carboxy or amino terminal of the BBB receptor antibody heavy chain immunoglobulin or light chain immunoglobulin as long as the linkage allows the decoy receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody to bind to the ECD of the BBB receptor and cross the blood brain barrier, and allows the decoy receptor ECD to retain a therapeutically useful portion of its activity, e.g., at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or another percent of its activity from at least about 10% to 100%. In certain embodiments, the covalent link is between a HC of the antibody and the decoy receptor ECD. In other embodiments, the covalent link is between a LC of the antibody and the decoy receptor ECD. Any suitable linkage may be used, e.g., carboxy terminus of light chain to amino terminus of decoy receptor ECD, carboxy terminus of heavy chain to amino terminus of decoy receptor ECD, or amino terminus of light chain to carboxy terminus of decoy receptor ECD. In preferred embodiments, the linkage is from the carboxy terminus of the HC to the amino terminus of the decoy receptor ECD. In some embodiments, the fusion antibody composition comprises a human TNF-α receptor ECD covalently linked via its N-terminus to the C-terminus of the heavy chain of a human insulin receptor antibody.

It will be appreciated that a linkage between terminal amino acids can be accomplished by an intervening peptide linker sequence that forms part of the fused amino acid sequence. The peptide sequence linker may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more than 10 amino acids in length. In some embodiments, a two amino acid linker is used. In some embodiments, the linker has the sequence ser-ser. The peptide linker sequence may include a protease cleavage site, however this is not a requirement for activity of the decoy receptor ECD. Indeed, an advantage of these embodiments of the present invention is that the bifunctional decoy receptor-BBB receptor antibody fusion antibody, without cleavage, is partially or fully active both for transport and for activity once across the BBB. FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of the amino acid sequence of a decoy receptor ECD-BBB receptor antibody fusion antibody, which is a human TNF-α receptor ECD-HIR antibody fusion antibody (SEQ ID NO:4) in which the HC is fused through its carboxy terminus via a three amino acid “ser-ser-ser” linker to the amino terminus of the TNF-α receptor ECD.

In some embodiments, a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody comprises both a HC and a LC. In some embodiments, the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is a monovalent antibody. In other embodiments, the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is a divalent antibody, as described herein in the Examples section.

The BBB receptor Ab used as part of the decoy-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody can be glycosylated or nonglycosylated; in some embodiments, the antibody is glycosylated, e.g., in a glycosylation pattern produced by its synthesis in a CHO cell.

As used herein, “activity” includes physiological activity (e.g., ability to cross the BBB and/or therapeutic activity), binding affinity of the BBB receptor Ab for its target BBB receptor, or the affinity of the decoy receptor for a cognate ligand (e.g., TNF in the case of a TNF-α decoy receptor).

Transport of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody across the BBB may be compared to transport across the BBB of the BBB receptor Ab alone by standard methods. For example, pharmacokinetics and brain uptake of the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody by a model animal e.g., a mammal such as a non-human primate, may be used. Similarly, standard models for determining decoy receptor ligand binding (e.g., ELISA) may be used to compare the function of a decoy receptor ECD alone and as part of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody. See, e.g., Example 4, which demonstrates the binding of TNFα to the HIRMAb-TNF-decoy receptor fusion protein versus TNF receptor (TNFR)-II:human IgG1 Fc fusion protein, designated TNFR:Fc. Binding affinity for the BBB receptor can also be compared for the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody versus the BBB receptor Ab alone. See. e.g., Example 4.

In some cases, the brain uptake of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor AB fusion antibody (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) is more than 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 7% or 10% ID/100 gram protein. Transport of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody across the BBB may also be compared to transport across the BBB of a fusion protein of a decoy receptor and the Fc fragment of human IgG, e.g., TNFR:Fc. The brain uptake of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor AB fusion antibody (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) may be more than 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 13-, 15-, 17-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, 40-, 45-, or 50-fold greater than the brain uptake of a fusion protein of a decoy receptor and the Fc fragment of human IgG, e.g., TNFR:Fc. The organ clearance constant, referred to herein as the permeability-surface area (PS) product, for the brain and other organs may be computed for the fusion proteins described herein. A decoy receptor-BBB receptor AB fusion antibody described herein (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) may be selectively enriched in the brain when compared to other organs. For example, when the ratio of the organ PS product for a decoy receptor-BBB receptor AB fusion antibody described herein (e.g., HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein) relative to the organ PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein is determined for multiple organs (see, e.g., FIG. 14), the brain ratio may be more than 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 13-, 15-, 17-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, 40-, 45-, or 50-fold greater than the ratio for other organs such as fat, muscle, heart, lung, liver, or spleen.

Also included herein are pharmaceutical compositions that contain one or more decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibodies described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers/excipients can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gennaro, A R, ed., 20th edition, 2000: Williams and Wilkins P A, USA. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include compositions suitable for administration via any peripheral route, including intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal injection: oral, rectal, transbuccal, pulmonary, transdermal, intranasal, or any other suitable route of peripheral administration.

The compositions of the invention are particularly suited for injection, e.g., as a pharmaceutical composition for intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal administration. Aqueous compositions of the present invention comprise an effective amount of a composition of the present invention, which may be dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or aqueous medium. The phrases “pharmaceutically” or “pharmacologically acceptable” refer to molecular entities and compositions that do not produce an adverse, allergic or other untoward reaction when administered to an animal, e.g., a human, as appropriate. As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, its use in the therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients can also be incorporated into the compositions.

Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for injectable compositions can include calcium salts, for example, such as calcium chlorides, calcium bromides, calcium sulfates, and the like; and the salts of organic acids such as acetates, propionates, malonates, benzoates, and the like. For example, compositions of the invention may be provided in liquid form, and formulated in saline based aqueous solution of varying pH (5-8), with or without detergents such polysorbate-80 at 0.01-1%, or carbohydrate additives, such mannitol, sorbitol, or trehalose. Commonly used buffers include histidine, acetate, phosphate, or citrate. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations can contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol; phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by the use in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate, and gelatin.

For human administration, preparations meet sterility, pyrogenicity, general safety, and purity standards as required by FDA and other regulatory agency standards. The active compounds will generally be formulated for parenteral administration, e.g., formulated for injection via the intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intralesional, or intraperitoneal routes. The preparation of an aqueous composition that contains an active component or ingredient will be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. Typically, such compositions can be prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions: solid forms suitable for use in preparing solutions or suspensions upon the addition of a liquid prior to injection can also be prepared; and the preparations can also be emulsified.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the active compounds in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with various of the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, methods of preparation include vacuum-drying and freeze-drying techniques which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Upon formulation, solutions will be systemically administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation and in such amount as is therapeutically effective based on the criteria described herein. The formulations are easily administered in a variety of dosage forms, such as the type of injectable solutions described above, but drug release capsules and the like can also be employed

The appropriate quantity of a pharmaceutical composition to be administered, the number of treatments, and unit dose will vary according to the CNS uptake characteristics of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody as described herein, and according to the subject to be treated, and the disease state of the subject. The person responsible for administration will, in any event, determine the appropriate dose for the individual subject.

In addition to the compounds formulated for parenteral administration, such as intravenous or intramuscular injection, other alternative methods of administration of the present invention may also be used, including but not limited to intradermal administration (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,501; 5,848,991; and 5,527,288), pulmonary administration (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,361,760; 6,060,069; and 6,041,775), buccal administration (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,375,975; and 6,284,262), transdermal administration (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,348,210; and 6,322,808) and transmucosal administration (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,284). Such methods of administration are well known in the art. One may also use intranasal administration of the present invention, such as with nasal solutions or sprays, aerosols or inhalants. Nasal solutions are usually aqueous solutions designed to be administered to the nasal passages in drops or sprays. Nasal solutions are prepared so that they are similar in many respects to nasal secretions. Thus, the aqueous nasal solutions usually are isotonic and slightly buffered to maintain a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. In addition, antimicrobial preservatives, similar to those used in ophthalmic preparations and appropriate drug stabilizers, if required, may be included in the formulation. Various commercial nasal preparations are known and include, for example, antibiotics and antihistamines and are used for asthma prophylaxis.

Additional formulations, which are suitable for other modes of administration, include suppositories and pessaries. A rectal pessary or suppository may also be used. Suppositories are solid dosage forms of various weights and shapes, usually medicated, for insertion into the rectum or the urethra. After insertion, suppositories soften, melt or dissolve in the cavity fluids. For suppositories, traditional binders and carriers generally include, for example, polyalkylene glycols or triglycerides; such suppositories may be formed from mixtures containing the active ingredient in any suitable range, e.g., in the range of 0.5% to 10%, preferably 1%-2%.

Oral formulations include such normally employed excipients as, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate and the like. These compositions take the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills, capsules, sustained release formulations, or powders. In certain defined embodiments, oral pharmaceutical compositions will comprise an inert diluent or assimilable edible carrier, or they may be enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, or they may be compressed into tablets, or they may be incorporated directly with the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the active compounds may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tables, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Such compositions and preparations can contain at least 0.1% of active compound. The percentage of the compositions and preparations may, of course, be varied, and may conveniently be between about 2 to about 75% of the weight of the unit, or between about 25-60%. The amount of active compounds in such therapeutically useful compositions is such that a suitable dosage will be obtained.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like may also contain the following: a binder, such as gum tragacanth, acacia, cornstarch, or gelatin; excipients, such as dicalcium phosphate; a disintegrating agent, such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and the like; a lubricant, such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent, such as sucrose, lactose or saccharin may be added or a flavoring agent, such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavoring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it may contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup of elixir may contain the active compounds sucrose as a sweetening agent, methylene and propyl parabens as preservatives, a dye and flavoring, such as cherry or orange flavor. In some embodiments, an oral pharmaceutical composition may be enterically coated to protect the active ingredients from the environment of the stomach: enteric coating methods and formulations are well-known in the art.

VI. NUCLEIC ACIDS, VECTORS, CELLS, AND MANUFACTURE

The invention also provides nucleic acids, vectors, cells, and methods of production. In some embodiments, the invention provides nucleic acids that code for polypeptides described herein, e.g., a nucleic acid that includes: (i) a first sequence encoding a heavy chain immunoglobulin and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the heavy chain immunoglobulin; (ii) a second sequence encoding a light chain immunoglobulin and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the light chain immunoglobulin; or (iii) the complementary sequence of (i) or (ii). The heavy chain and light chain immunoglobulins encoded by the just-mentioned nucleic acid are from an antibody against a BBB receptor, e.g., a human insulin receptor, transferrin receptor, an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, a leptin receptor, or lipoprotein receptor. In some cases, the encoded receptor ECD is from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some cases, the amino acid sequence of the encoded receptor is least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or some other percent identical from at least about 80% to about 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of an ECD from one of the foregoing receptors. In some cases, the nucleic acid encodes an ECD comprising an amino acid sequence that is least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or some other percent identical from at least about 80% to about 100% identical to the extracellular domain of a human, mouse, rat, or pig TNF-α receptor. In some embodiments, the first sequence encodes an amino acid sequence that is least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or some other percent identical from at least about 80% to about 100% identical to the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NOs:4 or 7. In other embodiments, the second sequence encodes an amino acid sequence that is least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or some other percent identical from at least about 80% to about 100% identical to the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6.

A nucleic acid provided herein can, in some cases, further contain a nucleic acid sequence that codes for a peptide linker between the heavy chain of the MAb and the receptor ECD. In some embodiments, the linker is S-S-M. In other embodiments, the linker is S-S. In another embodiment, the linker is S-S-S. The nucleic acid may further contain a nucleic acid sequence coding for a signal peptide, wherein the signal peptide is linked to the heavy chain. Any suitable signal peptide, as known in the art or subsequently developed, may be used. In some embodiments, the signal peptide attached to the heavy chain immunoglobulin comprises a sequence that is about 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99, or 100% identical to amino acids 1-19 of SEQ ID NO:4. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid contains a nucleic acid sequence coding for another signal peptide, wherein the other signal peptide is linked to the light chain. The signal peptide linked to the light chain can comprise a sequence that is about 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99, or 100% identical to amino acids 1-20 of SEQ ID NO:6.

The invention also provides nucleic acid vectors. The vector can contain any of the nucleic acid sequences described herein. In some embodiments, the vector includes: (i) a first sequence (or its complement) encoding a heavy chain immunoglobulin from an antibody against a BBB receptor and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the heavy chain immunoglobulin, or (ii) a second sequence (or its complement) encoding a light chain immunoglobulin from an antibody against the BBB receptor and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the light chain immunoglobulin. In some embodiments, the invention provides nucleic acid sequences, and in some embodiments the invention provides nucleic acid sequences that are at least about 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99, or 100% identical to a particular nucleotide sequence. For example, in some embodiments, the invention provides a nucleic acid containing a sequence that is at least about 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99, or 100% identical to SEQ ID NOs:3 or 5.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a single tandem expression vector containing both (i) a first sequence (or its complement) encoding a heavy chain immunoglobulin from an antibody against a BBB receptor and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the heavy chain immunoglobulin, and (ii) a second sequence (or its complement) encoding a light chain immunoglobulin from an antibody against the BBB receptor and a receptor extracellular domain in frame with the light chain immunoglobulin, all incorporated into a single piece of nucleic acid, e.g., a single piece of DNA referred to herein as a “tandem vector.” The single tandem vector can also include one or more selection and/or amplification genes, e.g., DHFR, neomycin phosphotransferase, hygromycin phosphotransferase, or puromycin N-acetyl transferase. In some embodiments the encoded selectable marker is DHFR. In some embodiments, the tandem vector encodes DHFR and a second selection/amplification marker (e.g., neomycin phosphotransferase). A method of making an exemplary tandem vector of the invention is provided in the Examples. However, any suitable techniques, as known in the art, may be used to construct the vector.

The use of a single tandem vector has several advantages. The transfection of a eukaryotic cell line with immunoglobulin G (IgG) genes generally involves the co-transfection of the cell line with separate plasmids encoding the heavy chain (HC) and the light chain (LC) comprising the IgG. In the case of a IgG fusion protein, the gene encoding the recombinant therapeutic protein may be fused to either the HC or LC gene. However, this co-transfection approach makes it difficult to select a cell line that has equally high integration of both the HC and LC-fusion genes, or the HC-fusion and LC genes. The approach to manufacturing the fusion protein utilized in certain embodiments of the invention is the production of a cell line that is permanently transfected with a single plasmid DNA that contains all the required genes on a single strand of DNA, including the HC-fusion protein gene, the LC gene, the selection gene, e.g. neo, and the amplification gene, e.g. the dihydrofolate reductase gene. As shown in the diagram of the fusion protein tandem vector in FIG. 9, the HC-decoy receptor fusion gene, the LC gene, the neo gene, and the DHFR gene are all under the control of separate, but tandem promoters and separate but tandem transcription termination sequences. Therefore, all genes are equally integrated into the host cell genome, including the fusion gene of the therapeutic protein and either the HC or LC IgG gene.

The invention further provides cells that incorporate one or more of the vectors of the invention. The cell may be a prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell. In some embodiments, the cell is a eukaryotic cell. In some embodiments, the cell is a mouse myeloma hybridoma cell. In some embodiments, the cell is a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell. Exemplary methods for incorporation of the vector(s) into the cell are given in the Examples. However, any suitable techniques, as known in the art, may be used to incorporate the vector(s) into the cell. In some embodiments, the invention provides a cell capable of expressing an immunoglobulin fusion protein, where the cell is a cell into which has been permanently introduced a single tandem expression vector, where both the immunoglobulin light chain gene and the gene for the immunoglobulin heavy chain fused to the therapeutic agent, are incorporated into a single piece of nucleic acid, e.g., DNA. In some embodiments, the invention provides a cell capable of expressing an immunoglobulin fusion protein, where the cell is a cell into which has been stably introduced a single tandem expression vector, where both the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and the gene for the immunoglobulin light chain fused to the decoy receptor ECD, are incorporated into a single piece of nucleic acid. e.g., DNA. The introduction of the tandem vector into a cell may be by, e.g., integration into a chromosomal nucleic acid, or by, e.g., introduction of an episomal genetic element.

For sequence comparison, of two nucleic acids, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identities for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters.

A “comparison window”, as used herein, includes reference to a segment of any one of the number of contiguous positions selected from the group consisting of from 20 to 600, usually about 50 to about 200, more usually about 100 to about 150 in which a sequence may be compared to a reference sequence of the same number of contiguous positions after the two sequences are optimally aligned. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well-known in the art. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, including but not limited to, by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, (1970), Adv. Appl. Math., 2:482c, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch, (1970), J. Mol. Biol., 48:443, by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman (1988), Proc Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA, 85:2444, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by manual alignment and visual inspection (see, e.g., Ausubel et al., (1995 supplement), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology).

One example of an algorithm that is suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity are the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms, which are described in Altschul et al., (1977). Nuc. Acids Res., 25:3389-3402, and Altschul et al., (1990), J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-410, respectively. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) or 10, M=5, N=−4 and a comparison of both strands. The BLAST algorithm is typically performed with the “low complexity” filter turned off. The BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin and Altschul, (1993), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:5873-5787). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a nucleic acid is considered similar to a reference sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid to the reference nucleic acid is less than about 0.2, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.

As is well-known in the art, owing to the degeneracy of the genetic code, any combination of suitable codons may be used to code for the desired fusion protein. In addition, other elements useful in recombinant technology, such as promoters, termination signals, and the like, may also be included in the nucleic acid sequence. Such elements are well-known in the art. In addition, all nucleic acid sequences described and claimed herein include the complement of the sequence.

In some embodiments, nucleic acids of the invention hybridize specifically under low, medium, or high stringency conditions to a nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs:4, 6, or 7. For example, such a nucleic acid may hybridize under low, medium, or high stringency conditions to a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 5, both, or their complements. Low stringency hybridization conditions include, e.g., hybridization with a 100 nucleotide probe of about 40% to about 70% GC content at 42° C. in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS. Medium stringency hybridization conditions include, e.g., at 50° C. in 0.5×SSC and 0.1% SDS. High stringency hybridization conditions include, e.g., hybridization with the above-mentioned probe at 65° C. in 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS. Under these conditions, as the hybridization temperature is elevated, a nucleic acid with a higher homology can be obtained.

In addition, the invention provides methods of manufacturing a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody. In some embodiments, the invention includes for manufacturing a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody, comprising stably integrating into a eukaryotic cell a single tandem expression vector encoding: (i) both an immunoglobulin heavy chain fused to a receptor extracellular domain, and an immunoglobulin light chain; or (ii), both an immunoglobulin light chain fused to a receptor extracellular domain, and an immunoglobulin heavy chain, where the encoded immunoglobulin heavy chain and immunoglobulin light chain are from an antibody against a receptor expressed on the BBB. Suitable antibodies against a BBB-receptor, and receptor ECDs include any of the foregoing antibodies and receptor ECDs.

The methods include expressing the immunoglobulin fusion protein, and/or purifying the immunoglobulin fusion protein. Exemplary methods for manufacture, including expression and purification, are given in the Examples.

However, any suitable technique, as known in the art, may be used to manufacture, optionally express, and purify the proteins. These include non-recombinant techniques of protein synthesis, such as solid phase synthesis, manual or automated, as first developed by Merrifield and described by Stewart et al., (1984) in Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis. Chemical synthesis joins the amino acids in the predetermined sequence starting at the C-terminus. Basic solid phase methods require coupling the C-terminal protected α-amino acid to a suitable insoluble resin support. Amino acids for synthesis require protection on the α-amino group to ensure proper peptide bond formation with the preceding residue (or resin support). Following completion of the condensation reaction at the carboxyl end, the α-amino protecting group is removed to allow the addition of the next residue. Several classes of α-protecting groups have been described, see Stewart et al., (1984) in Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, with the acid labile, urethane-based tertiary-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) being the historically preferred. Other protecting groups, and the related chemical strategies, may be used, including the base labile 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (FMOC). Also, the reactive amino acid sidechain functional groups require blocking until the synthesis is completed. The complex array of functional blocking groups, along with strategies and limitations to their use, have been reviewed by Bodansky (1976) in Peptide Synthesis and, Stewart et al., (1984) in Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis.

Solid phase synthesis is initiated by the coupling of the described C-terminal α-protected amino acid residue. Coupling requires activating agents, such as dicyclohexycarbodiimide (DCC) with or without 1-hydroxybenzo-triazole (HOBT), diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIIPC), or ethyldimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide (EDC). After coupling the C-terminal residue, the α-amino protected group is removed by trifluoroacetic acid (25% or greater) in dichloromethane in the case of acid labile tertiary-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) groups. A neutralizing step with triethylamine (10%) in dichloro-methane recovers the free amine (versus the salt). After the C-terminal residue is added to the resin, the cycle of deprotection, neutralization and coupling, with intermediate wash steps, is repeated in order to extend the protected peptide chain. Each protected amino acid is introduced in excess (three to five fold) with equimolar amounts of coupling reagent in suitable solvent. Finally, after the completely blocked peptide is assembled on the resin support, reagents are applied to cleave the peptide form the resin and to remove the side chain blocking groups. Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) cleaves the acid labile tertiary-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) chemistry groups. Several nucleophilic scavengers, such as dimethylsulfide and anisole, are included to avoid side reactions especially on side chain functional groups.

VII. METHODS

Described herein are methods for delivering a decoy receptor across the BBB by systemically administering any of the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibodies described herein. In some embodiments, the compositions described herein are administered to treat a CNS condition by systemically administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain immunoglobulin or a light chain immunogloulin covalently linked to the amino acid sequence of a receptor extracellular domain, where the fusion antibody binds to a receptor expressed on the BBB and the ligand for the receptor extracellular domain. In some cases, the CNS condition to be treated is an acute CNS condition, e.g., focal ischemia, global ischemia, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury. In some cases, the CNS condition to be treated is a chronic CNS condition. In some embodiments, the chronic CNS condition is a neurodegenerative condition, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, motor neuron disease, Pick's disease, tuberous sclerosis, Canavan's disease, Rett's syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxias, Friedreich's ataxia, optic atrophy, or retinal degeneration.

In some embodiments, a TNF-α receptor ECD-BBB receptor fusion antibody is systemically administered to treat a subject suffering from a stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury, or a neurodegenerative condition. In other embodiments, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is systemically administered to a subject to block angiogenesis in a brain tumor. In some cases, a TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor (TRAIL-R) ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is systemically administered to treat dementia from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In some embodiments, an interleukin (IL)-6 decoy receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is systemically administered to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). In further embodiments, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor decoy ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is systemically administered to treat stroke. In yet another embodiment, an ephrin receptor, EphA ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is systemically administered to accelerate neural repair following stroke or brain injury.

Suitable systemic doses for delivery of a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody will vary based on the specific decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody to be administered its CNS uptake characteristics and its affinity for the decoy receptor ligand.

In some embodiments, the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody to be administered contains an antibody against an insulin receptor (e.g., a human insulin receptor), a transferrin receptor, an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, a leptin receptor, or a lipoprotein receptor, and the decoy receptor contains an ECD from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor. In some embodiments, the decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody to be administered is a TNF-α receptor-human insulin receptor Ab fusion antibody.

The term “systemic administration” or “peripheral administration,” as used herein, includes any method of administration that is not direct administration into the CNS, i.e., that does not involve physical penetration or disruption of the BBB. “Systemic administration” includes, but is not limited to, intravenous, intra-arterial intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, transbuccal, transdermal, rectal, transalveolar (inhalation), or oral administration. Any suitable decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody, as described herein, may be used.

The compositions of the invention may be administered as part of a combination therapy. The combination therapy involves the administration of a composition of the invention in combination with another therapy for treatment or relief of symptoms typically found in a patient suffering from any of the above-mentioned CNS conditions. If the composition of the invention is used in combination with another CNS disorder method or composition, any combination of the composition of the invention and the additional method or composition may be used. Thus, for example, if use of a composition of the invention is in combination with another CNS disorder treatment agent, the two may be administered simultaneously, consecutively, in overlapping durations, in similar, the same, or different frequencies, etc. In some cases a composition will be used that contains a composition of the invention in combination with one or more other CNS disorder treatment agents.

In some embodiments, the composition, e.g., a bifunctional TNF-α receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody is co-administered to the patient with another medication, either within the same formulation or as a separate composition. For example, the bifunctional TNF-α receptor-human insulin receptor Ab fusion antibody can be formulated with another bifunctional decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody. Further, the TNF-α receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody may be formulated in combination with other large or small molecules. Exemplary agents for use in combination with a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody to treat CNS or CNS-related conditions are provided below.

Exemplary Agents for Co-Administration to Treat a CNS Inflammatory Condition

Where a subject is suffering from or at risk of suffering from an autoimmune, inflammatory disease, or allergic condition that affects the nervous system (see, e.g., Allan et al. (2003), Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 358(1438):1669-1677), a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody described herein (e.g., a TNF-α receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody) can be used together with one or more of the following therapeutic agents in any combination: immunosuppressants (e.g., tacrolimus, cyclosporin, rapamicin, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, mercaptopurine, mycophenolate, or FTY720), glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone, cortisone acetate, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, triamcinolone, beclometasone, fludrocortisone acetate, deoxycorticosterone acetate, aldosterone), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., salicylates, arylalkanoic acids, 2-arylpropionic acids, N-arylanthranilic acids, oxicams, coxibs, or sulphonanilides), Cox-2-specific inhibitors (e.g., valdecoxib, celecoxib, or rofecoxib), leflunomide, gold thioglucose, gold thiomalate, aurofin, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquinine, minocycline, TNF-α binding proteins (e.g., infliximab, etanercept, or adalimumab), abatacept, anakinra, interferon-β, interferon-γ, interleukin-2, allergy vaccines, antihistamines, antileukotrienes, beta-agonists, theophylline, or anticholinergics.

Exemplary Agents that be can Co-Administered with for Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Where a subject is suffering from or at risk of suffering from multiple sclerosis, a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody described herein (e.g., an interleukin (IL)-6 decoy receptor ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody) can be used together with one or more of the following exemplary multiple sclerosis therapeutic agents in any combination: Interferon β-1a, Interferon β-1b, glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®), mitoxantrone (Novantrone®), low dose naltrexone, Natalizumab (Tysabri®), Sativex®, Aimspro (Goats Serum), Trimesta (Oral Estriol), Laquinimod, FTY720 (Fingolimod), MBP8298, NeuroVax™, Tovaxin™, Revimmune, CHR-1103, BHT-3009, BG-12, Cladribine, daclizumab (Zenapax) Rituximab (Rituxan), cyclophosphamide, Campath, Fampridine-SR, MN-166, Temsirolimus, or RPI-78M.

Exemplary Agents that can be Co-Administered for Treatment of (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease or AIDS-Related Dementia)

Where a subject is suffering from or at risk of suffering from dementia, a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody described herein (e.g., a TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor (TRAIL-R) ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody) can be used together with one or more agents or methods for treating dementia in any combination. Examples of therapeutic agents/treatments for treating dementia include, but are not limited to any of the following: Flurizan™ (MPC-7869, r flurbiprofen), memantine, galantamine, rivastigmine, donezipil, tacrine, Aβ₁₋₄₂ immunotherapy, resveratrol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, statins, vitamin C, or vitamin E.

Exemplary Agents for Treating Thromboembolic Disorders

Where a subject is suffering from or at risk of suffering from a thromboembolic disorder (e.g., stroke), the subject can be treated with a decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody described herein (e.g., a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor decoy ECD-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody) in any combination with one or more other anti-thromboembolic agents. Examples of anti-thromboembolic agents include, but are not limited any of the following: thrombolytic agents (e.g., alteplase anistreplase, streptokinase, urokinase, or tissue plasminogen activator), heparin, tinzaparin, warfarin, dabigatran (e.g., dabigatran etexilate), factor Xa inhibitors (e.g., fondaparinux, draparinux, rivaroxaban, DX-9065a, otamixaban, LY517717, or YM 150), ticlopidine, clopidogrel, CS-747 (prasugrel, LY640315), ximelagatran, or BIBR 1048.

Examples

The following specific examples are to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever. Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, based on the description herein, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. All publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where reference is made to a URL or other such identifier or address, it is understood that such identifiers can change and particular information on the internet can come and go, but equivalent information can be found by searching the internet. Reference thereto evidences the availability and public dissemination of such information.

Example 1 Cloning and Expression of the Human TNFR ECD cDNA

The human TNFR-II extracellular domain (ECD), corresponding to amino acids 23-257 of NP_001057, was cloned by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) described in Table 2 and cDNA derived from reverse transcription of polyA+RNA isolated from human U87 glial cells. The TNFR cDNA was cloned by PCR using 25 ng polyA+RNA-derived cDNA, 0.2 μM forward and reverse ODN primers (Table I, SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 2, respectively), 0.2 mM deoxynucleosidetriphosphates, and 2.5 U PfuUltra DNA polymerase in a 50 μl Pfu buffer. The amplification was performed in a Mastercycler temperature cycler with an initial denaturing step of 95° C. for 2 min followed by 30 cycles of denaturing at 95° C. for 30 sec, annealing at 55° C. for 30 sec and amplification at 72° C. for 1 min; followed by a final incubation at 72° C. for 10 min. PCR products were resolved in 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis, and the expected major single band of ˜0.6 kb corresponding to the human TNFR cDNA was produced (FIG. 2A). The amino acid sequence of the TNFR ECD was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned TFR ECD cDNA, and encompassed Leu²³-Asp²⁵⁷ (NP_001057).

TABLE 2 Oligodeoxynucleotide primers used in the RT-PCR cloning of  human TNFR-II and in the engineering of the HIRMAb-TNFR expression vector Human TNFR FWD: phosphate-CCTTGCCCGCCCAGGTGG SEQ ID NO 1 Human TNFR REV: phosphate-TCAGTCGCCAGTGCTCCCTTC SEQ ID NO 2

Example 2 Genetic Engineering of Expression Plasmids Encoding Heavy Chain-TNFR Fusion Protein Wherein the TNFR is Fused to the Carboxyl Terminus of the HIRMAb Heavy Chain

The expression plasmid expressing the fusion protein of the heavy chain (HC) and the TNFR ECD is designated pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR. This plasmid was engineered by insertion of the mature human TNFR cDNA, corresponding to amino acids Leu²³-Asp²⁵⁷ of the human TNFR-II ECD (NP_001057), at the HpaI site of the pCD-HIRMAb-HC expression plasmid (FIG. 2B) to produce pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR (FIG. 2B). The pCD-HIRMAb-HC plasmid encodes the HC of the chimeric HIRMAb, and dual transfection of COS cells with this plasmid and a light chain (LC) expression plasmid, pHIRMAb-LC, allows for transient expression of the chimeric HIRMAb. The TNFR forward (FWD) PCR primer (Table I) introduces “CA” nucleotides to maintain the open reading frame and to introduce a Ser-Ser-Ser linker between the carboxyl terminus of the CH3 region of the HIRMAb HC and the amino terminus of the TNFR ECD minus its signal peptide. The fusion of the TNFR monomer to the carboxyl terminus of each HC is depicted in FIG. 1. This design sterically restricts the TNFR to a dimeric configuration, which is a preferred conformation of the TNFR ECD, which crystallizes as receptor dimer (Chan et al, (2000), Immunity, 13:419-422). The TNFR reverse (REV) PCR primer (Table I) introduces a stop codon, “TGA,” immediately after the terminal aspartic acid of the TNFR ECD protein. The engineered pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR expression vector was validated by DNA sequencing.

The HIRMAb HC and LC cDNA expression cassettes are driven by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and contain the bovine growth hormone (BGH) polyadenylation (pA) sequence (FIG. 2B). The engineering of the universal pCD-HIRMAb-HC vector was performed by insertion of a single HpaI site at the end of the HIRMAb HC CH3 open reading frame (orf) by site directed mutagenesis (SDM), as described previously (Boado et al, (2007b) Biotechnol. Bioeng., 97:1376-1386).

The cDNA corresponding to the 235 amino acid TNFR-II ECD was amplified by PCR using the ODNs in Table 2, and this cDNA was subcloned into the HpaI site of the pCD-HIRMAb-HC plasmid, as outlined in FIG. 2B. DNA sequencing showed the expression cassette of the pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR plasmid encompassed 3,193 nucleotides (nt), including a 714 nt CMV promoter, a 9 nt full Kozak site (GCCGCCACC), a 2,100 nt HIRMAb HC-TNFR fusion protein open reading frame, and a 370 nt BGH sequence (SEQ ID NO 3). The 2,100 nt open reading frame corresponds to nt 724 to 2,823 of SEQ ID NO 3. The plasmid encoded for a 699 amino acid (AA) protein, comprised of a 19 amino acid IgG signal peptide (AA 1 to 19, SEQ ID NO 4), the 442 amino acid HIRMAb HC (AA 20 to 461, SEQ ID NO 4), a 3 amino acid linker (Ser-Ser-Ser), and the 235 amino acid human TNFR-II ECD minus its signal peptide (AA 465 to 699, SEQ ID NO 4). The predicted molecular weight of the heavy chain fusion protein, minus glycosylation, is 73,900 Da, with a predicted isoelectric point (pI) of 8.45. The deduced amino acid sequence of the TNFR ECD portion of the fusion protein included 22 cysteine residues and 2 N-linked consensus glycosylation sites within the TNFR ECD at Asn-149 and Asn-171 (SEQ ID NO 4).

The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein is comprised of 2 fusion heavy chains (AA 20-699, SEQ ID NO 4) and 2 light chains (LC). The LC is expressed by the pCD-HIRMAb-LC expression plasmid, and the nt sequence of the LC expression cassette is given in SEQ ID NO. 5. DNA sequencing of the expression cassette of the pCD-HIRMAb-LC plasmid encompassed 1,809 nt, including a 731 nt CMV promoter, a 9 nt full Kozak site (GCCGCCACC), a 705 nt HIRMAb LC fusion protein open reading frame, and a 370 nt BGH sequence (SEQ ID NO 5). The 705 nt open reading frame corresponds to nt 741 to 1,445 of SEQ ID NO 5. This plasmid encodes for a 234 AA protein, comprised of a 20 amino acid IgG signal peptide (AA 1 to 20, SEQ ID NO 6), and the 214 amino acid HIRMAb LC (AA 21 to 234, SEQ ID NO 6).

Example 3 Secretion of HIRMAb-TNFR Fusion Protein by Transfected COS Cells

COS cells were dual transfected with pCD-HIRMAb-LC and pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR using Lipofectamine 2000, with a ratio of 1:2.5, μg DNA:uL Lipofectamine, where pCD-HIRMAh-LC is an expression plasmid encoding the light chain of the chimeric HIRMAb, which is the same light chain incorporated into the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. Following transfection, the cells were cultured in serum free medium. COS cells were initially plated in 6-well cluster dishes for screening for expression with a human IgG specific ELISA. Subsequently, the transfection was scaled up for plating of transfected COS cells in 10×T500 flasks. The conditioned serum free medium was collected at 3 and 7 days. The fusion protein was purified by protein A affinity chromatography.

Human IgG ELISA was performed in Immulon 2 high binding plates with COS cell conditioned medium. A goat anti-human IgG primary antibody was plated in 0.1 M NaHCO3 (100 μl, 2 μg/ml) and incubated overnight at 4 C. Plates were washed 0.01 M Na2HPO4/0.15 M NaCl/pH=7.4/0.05% Tween-20 (PBST), and blocked with 1% gelatin in PBST for 30 min at 22° C. Plates were incubated with 100 μl/well of either human IgG1 standard or the fusion protein for 60 minutes at room temperature (RT). After washing with PBST, a goat anti-human kappa LC antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase was plated for 60 min at 37° C. Color development was performed with p-nitrophenyl phosphate at pH=10.4 in the dark. The reaction was stopped with NaOH, and absorbance at 405 nm was measured in an ELISA plate reader.

The homogeneity of protein A purified fusion protein produced by COS cells was evaluated with a reducing 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), followed by Coomasie Blue staining. For Western blotting, human IgG immunoreactivity was tested with a primary goat antibody to human IgG (H+L), and human TNFR immunoreactivity was evaluated with a mouse monoclonal antibody to the human TNFR-II ECD. Following SDS-PAGE and Coomasie blue staining, the size of the light chain (LC) is the same for both the HIRMAb and the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein (FIG. 3). The size of the heavy chain (HC) of the fusion protein is about 30 kDa larger than the HC of the HIRMAb (FIG. 3). On Western blotting, the LC of either the HIRMAb or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein react equally on the Western with a primary antibody directed against the human IgG (H+L), as shown in FIG. 4 (left panel). The size of the HC of the fusion protein is about 30 kDa larger than the size of the HC of the HIRMAb on both Western blots using either the anti-human IgG primary antibody (FIG. 4, left panel) or the anti-human TNFR primary antibody (FIG. 4, right panel). These results show the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein is successfully translated and secreted by the host cell.

Example 4 HIRMAb-TNFR Fusion Protein Retains High Affinity Binding for Both the HIR and TNFα

In the present work, the amino terminus of the decoy receptor is fused to the carboxyl terminus of the IgG chain. Unexpectedly, this configuration yielded a bifunctional decoy receptor-BBB receptor Ab fusion antibody.

The affinity of the fusion protein for the HIR extracellular domain (ECD) was determined with an ELISA using the lectin affinity purified HIR ECD. CHO cells permanently transfected with the HIR ECD were grown in serum free media (SFM), and the HIR ECD was purified with a wheat germ agglutinin affinity column. The HIR ECD (0.2 μg/well) was plated on Immulon 2 high binding 96-well plates, and the binding of the chimeric HIRMAb, the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, or human IgG1 to the HIR ECD was detected with a biotinylated goat anti-human IgG (H+L) antibody (0.3 μg/well), and the avidin/biotinylated peroxidase detection system. The concentration that caused 50% binding to the HIR ECD, the ED50, was determined by non-linear regression analysis. There is comparable binding of the chimeric HIRMAb and the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein for the HIR ECD with ED50 of 0.44±0.19 nM and 0.62±0.06 nM, respectively (FIG. 5). This shows there is retention of high affinity binding by the HIRMAb to the HIR, despite fusion of the TNFR to the HIRMAb.

Binding of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein to TNFα was determined with an ELISA. The capture reagent was commercially available human TNFα. The positive control in the assay was commercially available recombinant human TNFR-II:human IgG1 Fc fusion protein, designated TNFR:Fc, and the negative control was human IgG1/κ. The TNFα was dissolved in 0.1 M NaHCO3/pH=9.0 and plated overnight at 4 C in 100 μl/well (0.2 μg/well). After washing with 0.01 M Tris/0.15 M NaCl/pH=7.4 (TBS), the wells were blocked with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in TBS for 30 min. A volume of 100 μl/well of HIRMAb-TNFR, TNFR:Fc, or human IgG1k was plated for 60 min at room temperature. After washing with TBS plus 0.05% Tween-20 (TBST), a goat anti-human IgG-alkaline phosphatase conjugate was incubated (0.2 μg/well) for 60 min. Following washing with TBST, color detection at 405 nm was performed with an ELISA plate reader after color development with para-nitrophenylphosphate and termination of the reaction with 1.2 M NaOH. The human IgG1/kappa (hIgG1/k) did not bind to the TNFα, as shown in FIG. 6A. The TNFR:Fc, or the HIRMAb-TNFR, bound to the plated TNFα in a linear relationship that did not saturate within the tested concentration range of 0-600 ng/mL. Therefore, the data were fit to a linear regression analysis to compute the slope of the binding curve. The reciprocal of the slope is equal to the KD/Amax ratio, where KD is the binding constant of TNFR binding to the plated TNFα, and Amax is the maximum absorbance. In this analysis, the slope of the binding curve is directly proportional to the affinity of the TNFR fusion protein for the TNFα. The affinity of either recombinant TNFR:Fc or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein for human TNFα was measured with an ELISA. The TNFR:Fc bound to the TNFα with a KD/Amax ratio 0.88±0.02 nM (FIG. 6A). The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein bound to the TNFα with a comparable KD/Amax ratio of 1.40±0.08 nM (FIG. 6B). This shows there is retention of high affinity binding by the TNFR ECD to the TNFα, despite fusion of the TNFR to the carboxyl terminus of the HIRMAb.

The saturable binding of human TNFα to the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was determined with a radio-receptor assay (RRA). A mouse anti-human IgG1 Fc antibody was plated in 96-well plates (0.4 μg/well) with an overnight incubation in 0.1 M NaHCO3/pH=8.3, followed by washing, and blocking with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in 0.01 M Na2HPO4/0.15 M NaCl/pH=7.4 (PBS). Then, one of the following solutions was plated at 100 μl/well: (a) 1% BSA in PBS, (b) 100 ng/well of human IgG1/kappa, or (c) 100 ng/well of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, followed by a 1 hour incubation at room temperature. The wells were then washed with PBS, followed by the addition of 200 μl/well of a co-mixture of [¹²⁵I]-TNFα at a concentration of 0.01 uCi/well (0.2 ng/well) and various concentrations of unlabeled human TNFα, followed by a 3 hour incubation at room temperature. The wells were emptied by aspiration, washed with cold PBS, and 250 μl/well of 1 N NaOH was added, followed by heating at 60 C for 30 min. Radioactivity was counted in a Perkin Elmer liquid scintillation counter, and the fractional binding per well was computed. The half-saturation constant, KD, of TNF binding to the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was determined by non-linear regression analysis using a statistical software package. Saturable binding of TNFα to the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was detectable with the radio-receptor assay, which is outlined in FIG. 7A. Non-linear regression analysis of the binding data (Methods) indicated the KD of binding was 0.34±0.17 nM (FIG. 7B). These results indicate the TNFR ECD still binds its cognate ligand with very high affinity, despite fusion at its amino terminus to the carboxyl terminus of the HIRMAb heavy chain.

Example 5 Biological Activity of HIRMAb-TNFR Fusion Protein in Human Cells

Human WEHI-13VAR cells (CRL-2148) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va.), and used as a bio-assay of TNFα cytotoxicity (Espevik and Nissen-Meyer, (1986), J. Immunol. Methods, 95:99-105). The cells were plated in 24-well cluster dishes at 300,000 cells/well in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine scrum (FBS). Following growth overnight, half of the medium was removed by aspiration, and was replaced by 200 μl of fresh RPMI-1640 medium, 50 μl/well of 10 μg/mL of actinomycin D (final concentration=1.0 μg/mL), and final concentrations of human recombinant TNFα ranging from 1 to 100 pg/mL. In some wells, the TNFα was complexed to recombinant TNFR:Fc, or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, for 30 min prior to addition to the wells. The final concentration of the TNFR:Fc or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was 1.4 nM. After overnight incubation (20 hours) at 37 C in a humidified incubator, the medium was supplemented with thiazoyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) to a final concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. After a 3 hour incubation at 37 C, the reaction was terminated by the addition of solubilizing solution (48% isopropanol, 2% 1 N HCl). The absorbance at 570 nm and 650 nm, and the A570-A650 difference was computed. MTT is oxidized by mitochondria in healthy cells to formazan crystals, and this reaction is inversely related to cell viability. In the absence of actinomycin D, the TNFα, at a concentration of 1-100 pg/mL, was not toxic to the cells. However, in the presence of actinomycin D, these concentrations of TNFα produced a dose-dependent cytotoxicity with an ED50 of 5-10 pg/mL human TNFα(FIG. 8). However, the cytotoxic effect of the TNFα was blocked by the co-incubation of the cytokine with 1.4 nM concentrations of either the TNFR:Fc fusion protein or the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein (FIG. 8). This shows the TNFR decoy receptor is biologically active despite fusion to the carboxyl terminus of the HIRMAb.

Example 6 Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Amino Acid Sequence of TNFR

Within the 235 AA TNFR sequence of the decoy receptor cloned from human U87 glial cells (AA 465 to 699, SEQ ID NO 4), there is a polymorphism at positions 174 and 210. The arginine (Arg) at position 638 of the HIRMAb-TNFR heavy chain (SEQ ID NO 4) corresponds to Arg-174 of the 235 AA TNFR ECD. This Arg-174 is a natural R174M polymorphism, as methionine (Met) is found at position 174 in the human TNFR sequence (GenBank AAA36755). The R638M site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) can be performed by well known methods to convert the Arg-638 to Met-638, as shown in SEQ ID NO 7. The lysine (Lys) at position 674 of the HIRMAb-TNFR heavy chain (SEQ ID NO 4) corresponds to Lys-210 of the 235 AA TNFR ECD. This Lys-210 is a natural K210E polymorphism, as glutamate (Glu) is found at position 210 in the human TNFR sequence (GenBank AAA36755). The K674E site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) can be performed by well known methods to convert the Lys-674 to Glu-674, as shown in SEQ ID NO 7. The engineering of the pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR expression vector with the TNFR-R638M polymorphism (SEQ ID NO 7) is performed by SDM with the human TNFR-R638M FWD (Table 3, SEQ ID NO 8) and the human TNFR-R638M REV (Table 3, SEQ ID NO 9) ODN primers using well known site-directed mutagenesis methods. Similarly, the engineering of the pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR expression vector with the TNFR-K674E polymorphism is performed by SDM with the human TNFR-K674E FWD (Table 3, SEQ ID NO 10) and the human TNFR-K674E REV (Table 3, SEQ ID NO 11) ODN primers.

Example 7 Genetic Engineering of Tandem Vector Encoding the HIRMAb-TNFR Fusion Protein

The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein is comprised of 2 heavy chains (HC) and 2 light chains (LC), as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the host cell must be permanently transfected with both the HC and LC genes. In addition, the host cell must be permanently transfected with a gene that allows for isolation of cell lines with amplification around the transgene insertion site. This is accomplished with selection of cell lines with methotrexate (MTX) following transfection of the host cell with a gene encoding for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Therefore, it is necessary to obtain high production of all 3 genes in a single cell that ultimately produces the Master Cell Bank for manufacturing. In order to insure high expression of all 3 genes, a single piece of DNA, called a tandem vector (TV), was engineered as outlined in FIG. 9. The genetic engineering of the TV for HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, designated pTV-HIRMAb-TNFR, was completed by insertion of the TNFR ECD cDNA into the HpaI site of pTV-HIRMAb. The TNFR ECD cDNA was generated by PCR using custom ODNs and pCD-HIRMAb-TNFR (FIG. 2B) as the template. The pTV-HIRMAb is a tandem vector encoding the chimeric HIRMAb with a unique HpaI restriction site at the 3′ terminus of the HIRMAb HC open reading frame. The pTV-HIRMAb contains tandem expression cassettes for the HIRMAb LC and HC genes, each cassette driven by an intron bearing CMV promoter, and each cassette terminated by a bovine growth hormone (BGH) poly adenylation (pA) sequence. The pTV-HIRMAb also contains a third expression cassette for murine dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is driven by the SV40 promoter and is terminated by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) pA sequence. The HIRMAb-TNFR HC expression cassette is comprised of an intron bearing CMV promoter, a 9 nt full Kozak site (GCCGCCACC), a 2,100 nt HIRMAb HC-TNFR fusion protein open reading frame, and a BGH pA sequence. The 699 AA HIRMAb-TNFR HC protein encoded by the tandem vector shown in FIG. 9 is identical to the one in SEQ ID NO 4, and it is comprised of a 19 amino acid IgG signal peptide (AA 1 to 19, SEQ ID NO 4), the 442 amino acid HIRMAb HC (AA 20 to 461, SEQ ID NO 4), a 3 amino acid linker (Ser-Ser-Ser), and the 235 amino acid human TNFR-II ECD minus its signal peptide (AA 465 to 699, SEQ ID NO 4). The predicted molecular weight of the heavy chain fusion protein, minus glycosylation, is 73,900 Da, with a predicted isoelectric point (pI) of 8.45. The deduced amino acid sequence of the TNFR ECD portion of the fusion protein included 22 cysteine residues and 2 N-linked consensus glycosylation sites within the TNFR ECD at Asn-149 and Asn-171 (SEQ ID NO 4). The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein produced by the tandem vector described in FIG. 9 is comprised of 2 fusion heavy chains (AA 20-699, SEQ ID NO 4) and 2 light chains (LC). The LC expression cassette encompasses an intron bearing CMV promoter, a 9 nt full Kozak site (GCCGCCACC), a 705 nt HIRMAb LC fusion protein open reading frame, and a BGH pA sequence. The 214 AA HIRMAb-LC protein encoded by the tandem vector shown in FIG. 9 is identical to the one in SEQ ID NO 6, and it is comprised of a 20 amino acid IgG signal peptide (AA 1 to 20, SEQ ID NO 6), and the 214 amino acid HIRMAb LC (AA 21 to 234, SEQ ID NO 6).

Example 8 Stable Transfection of CHO Cells and Dilutional Cloning

Serum free medium (SFM) adapted DG44 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were electroporated with 5 μg of the pTV-HIRMAb-TNFR, following linearization with PvuI, using an electroporator. Five×10⁶ cells were electroporated with the DNA in 200 uL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 0.2 cm cuvettes using a square wave and 160 volts. Cells were suspended in CHO serum free medium (SFM) and plated in 4×96-well plates. Selection of stable transfectants began 2 days following electroporation with 0.54 mg/ml G418. Aliquots of supernatant were taken for human IgG ELISA when colonies of transfectants were evident, i.e. 21 days. Positive clones were isolated and cultured individually for further characterization. DG44 cells lack endogenous DHFR, and rely on nutrients, hypoxanthine and thymidine (HT) for endogenous folate synthesis. Transfected cells carrying the TV express the exogenous DHFR. Transfected cell lines were further selected by placement in HT-deficient medium. Lines with amplification around the transgene insertion site were selected by subjecting the cells to increasing concentrations of MTX, starting at 20 nM MTX. Following stabilization of the cell line at 80-160 nM MTX, high producing clones were isolated by limited dilution cloning (DC) at 1 cell per well; a total of 4000 wells were plated at each round of DC, and medium IgG was measured with a human IgG ELISA using a high volume microplate dispenser and a microplate washer. The cloned cells were propagated in 125 mL plastic square bottles on an orbital shaker at a viable cell density of 1-2 million cells/mL, and produced human IgG levels of approximately 10 mg/L in serum free medium, as determined by IgG ELISA.

Example 9 Selective Targeting of Decoy Receptor to Brain In Vivo

The brain penetration of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was measured in the adult Rhesus monkey, since the HIRMAb cross reacts with the insulin receptor of Old World primates, but does not recognize the insulin receptor of lower species. In addition, commercially available TNFR decoy receptor fused to the human IgG1 Fc region, and designated TNFR:Fc, was purchased from R&D Systems. The TNFR:Fc fusion protein represents the state of the art with respect to decoy receptor fusion proteins. The TNFR:Fc has no specificity for any BBB receptor, and is expected not to penetrate the BBB. However, the BBB transport of the TNFR:Fc fusion protein has never been measured. Moreover, there is evidence in the literature that IgG molecules cross the BBB [Zlokovic et al, A saturable mechanism for transport of immunoglobulin G across the blood-brain barrier of the guinea pig. Exp. Neurol, 107, 263-270, 1990], and one could speculate that the TNFR:Fc fusion protein would also cross the BBB, in that this protein contains the majority of the constant region of human IgG1. For the brain uptake study, the CHO-derived HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was tritiated, in parallel with the non-oxidative radio-iodination of the TNFR:Fc fusion protein. The [³H]-HIRMAb-TNFR and [¹²⁵I]-TNFR:Fc fusion proteins were co-injected into the Rhesus monkey. The results demonstrate that the TNFR:Fc fusion protein does not cross the BBB, and that there is a marked increase in brain penetration of the TNFR following fusion to the BBB molecular Trojan horse. The uptake of the fusion proteins in non-brain organs in the primate is also measured, which shows that fusion of the decoy receptor to the HIRMAb results in a selective targeting of the pharmaceutical to the CNS.

[¹²⁵I]-Bolton-Hunter reagent was used to radiolabel the TNFR:Fc fusion protein (#726-R2), which was purchased from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn.), and shown to be homogenous by SDS-PAGE. The TNFR:Fc was radio-labeled with fresh Bolton-Hunter reagent to a specific activity of 11.5 uCi/ug and a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitability of >99% following purification with a 1.0×28 cm column of Sephadex G-25 and elution with 0.01 M NaH2PO4/0.15 M NaCl/pH=7.4/0.05% Tween-20 (PBST). The TCA precipitation of the labeled TNFR:Fc fusion protein remained>99% at 24 hours after iodination, and the TNFR:Fc fusion protein was administered to the primate within 24 hrs of radio-labeling. [³H]—N-succinimidyl propionate (NSP) was used to radiolabel the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, which resulted in a specific activity of 3.0 uCi/ug and a TCA precipitability of 95% following purification with a 1.0×28 cm column of Sephadex G-25 and elution with 0.02 M Tris/0.15 M NaCl/pH=6.5 (TBS). The solution was buffer exchanged with TBS and an Ultra-15 microconcentrator (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.), which increased the TCA precipitability to 99%. The ³H-labeled HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was labeled in advance of the primate study and stored at −70 C.

An adult female Rhesus monkey, 4.1 kg, was injected intravenously (IV) with 1806 uCi of [³H]-HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, 428 uCi of [¹²⁵I]-TNFR:Fc fusion protein in 3.1 mL of TBS by bolus injection over 30 seconds in the left femoral vein. The dose of HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was 0.15 mg/kg. The animal was initially anesthetized with intramuscular ketamine, and anesthesia was maintained by 1% isoflurane by inhalation. All procedures were carried out in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as adopted and promulgated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Following intravenous drug administration, femoral venous plasma was obtained at 1, 2.5, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min for determination of ³H and ¹²⁵I radioactivity. The animal was euthanized, and samples of major organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, skeletal muscle, and omental fat) were removed, weighed, and processed for determination of radioactivity. The cranium was opened and the brain was removed. Samples of frontal cortical gray matter, frontal cortical white matter, cerebellar gray matter, and cerebellar white matter were removed for radioactivity determination.

Samples (˜2 gram) of frontal cortex were removed for capillary depletion analysis. The brain was homogenized in 8 mL cold PBS in a tissue grinder. The homogenate was supplemented with 9.4 mL cold 40% dextran (70 kDa, Sigma Chemical Co.), and an aliquot of the homogenate was taken for radioactivity measurement. The homogenate was centrifuged at 3200 g at 4 C for 10 min in a fixed angle rotor. The brain microvasculature quantitatively sediments as the pellet at this density of high molecular weigh dextran, and the post-vascular supernatant is a measure of capillary depleted brain parenchyma. The vascular pellet and supernatant were counted for ³H and ¹²⁵I radioactivity in parallel with the homogenate. The volume of distribution (VD) was determined for each of the 3 fractions from the ratio of total ¹²⁵I or ³H radioactivity in the fraction divided by the total ¹²⁵I or ³H radioactivity in the 120 min terminal plasma.

Plasma and tissue samples were analyzed for ¹²⁵I radioactivity with a gamma counter, and were analyzed for ³H radioactivity with a liquid scintillation counter. The ¹²⁵I isotope emits radiation that is detected in the ³H channel (0-12 keV) of the liquid scintillation counter (LSC). Therefore, quench curves were produced using chloroform as the quench agent, to compute the efficiency of counting of ¹²⁵I in the ³H window. All samples for ³H counting were solubilized in Soluene-350 (Perkin Elmer) and counted in the LSC in Opti-Fluor O (Perkin Elmer).

The ³H or ¹²⁵I radioactivity in plasma, DPM/mL, was converted to % injected dose (ID)/mL, and the % ID/mL was fit to a bi-exponential equation, % ID/mL=A1e^(−k1t)+A2^(−k2t). The intercepts (A1, A2) and the slopes (k1, k2) were used to compute the median residence time (MRT), the central volume of distribution (Vc), the steady state volume of distribution (Vss), the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC), and the systemic clearance (CL). Non-linear regression analysis used to compute the PK parameters, and the data were weighted by 1/(% ID/mL)².

The organ clearance (uL/min/g), also called the permeability-surface area (PS) product, is computed from the terminal organ uptake (% ID/g) and the 120 min plasma AUC (% IDmin/mL) as follows: organ PS product=[(% ID/g)/AUC]*1000. The HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein was radiolabeled with the [³H] and the TNFR:Fc fusion protein was radiolabeled with [¹²⁵I], and the proteins were co-injected IV into an adult Rhesus monkey. The clearance of the plasma radioactivity is shown in FIG. 12A, and the plasma radioactivity that was precipitable with TCA is shown in FIG. 12B. The plasma clearance profiles (FIG. 12A) were fit to a bi-exponential function (Methods) for estimation of the PK parameters, which are shown in Table 4 for each fusion protein. The uptake of the fusion proteins by brain and peripheral organs was measured as a % I.D./100 gram tissue, and these values are given in Table 5. The brain volume of distribution (VD) of the fusion proteins was measured with the capillary depletion method and the VD values for the homogenate, the vascular pellet, and the post-vascular supernatant are given in Table 6.

The BBB PS products for the HIRMAb-TNFR and TNFR:Fc fusion proteins were computed from the 2 hour plasma AUC (FIG. 13A) and the brain uptake or % ID/100 g (FIG. 13B), and the PS products are given in FIG. 13C. For comparison, the data in FIG. 13 also display the AUC, the % ID/100 g, and the BBB PS product for a vascular space marker, human IgG1. The PS products were similarly computed for the HIRMAb-TNFR and TNFR:Fc fusion proteins in peripheral organs and these data are given in Table 7. The ratio of the PS product for the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein relative to the PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein in each organ is plotted in FIG. 14.

TABLE 4 Pharmacokinetic parameters [¹²⁵I]-TNFR:Fc [³H]-HIRMAb-TNFR parameter units Fusion protein Fusion protein A1 % ID/mL 0.211 ± 0.010 0.319 ± 0.015 A2 % ID/mL 0.239 ± 0.010 0.146 ± 0.011 k1 min−1 0.082 ± 0.009 0.099 ± 0.011 k2 min−1 0.0057 ± 0.0004 0.0091 ± 0.0008 MRT min 166 ± 12  93 ± 8  Vc mL/kg 54 ± 1  52 ± 2  Vss mL/kg 91 ± 3  118 ± 6  AUC ¹²⁰ % IDmin/mL 23.3 ± 0.2  13.9 ± 0.2  AUCss % IDmin/mL 44.5 ± 1.9  19.3 ± 0.7  CL mL/min/kg 0.55 ± 0.02 1.28 ± 0.04 Estimated from the plasma clearance data in FIG. 12.

TABLE 5 Organ uptake of [¹²⁵I]-TNFR:Fc and [³H]-HIRMAb-TNFR in the Rhesus monkey [¹²⁵I]-TNFR:Fc [³H]-HIRMAb-TNFR organ Fusion protein Fusion protein Frontal gray 0.230 ± 0.057 3.00 ± 0.07 Frontal white 0.070 ± 0.007 1.49 ± 0.19 Cerebellar gray 0.168 ± 0.009 2.41 ± 0.07 Cerebellar white 0.100 ± 0.004 2.23 ± 0.22 heart 1.06 ± 0.03 1.03 ± 0.08 liver 21.6 ± 0.2  30.3 ± 1.9  spleen 8.4 ± 0.2 26.6 ± 1.7  lung 3.96 ± 0.24 3.96 ± 0.57 Skeletal muscle 0.223 ± 0.013 0.17 ± 0.02 fat 0.279 ± 0.013 0.19 ± 0.01 Data are % I.D./100 grams; mean ± SE (n = 3).

TABLE 6 Capillary depletion, analysis of HIRMAb-GDNF and TNFR:Fc distribution in brain Parameter TNFR:Fc HIRMAb-TNFR Homogenate VD 13 ± 3  354 ± 21 Post-vascular supernatant VD 8.3 ± 0.2 208 ± 23 Brain capillary pellet VD 0.4 ± 0.1 28 ± 5 TCA precipitation (%) 71 ± 2  93 ± 1 Mean ± SE (n = 3). VD = volume of distribution (uL/g); TCA = trichloroacetic acid.

TABLE 7 Organ PS products for TNFR:Fc and HIRMAb-TNFR fusion proteins PS product (uL/min/g) organ TNFR:Fc HIRMAb-TNFR Cerebral gray 0.098 ± 0.020 2.2 ± 0.1 Cerebral white 0.030 ± 0.003 1.1 ± 0.2 Cerebellar gray 0.072 ± 0.003 1.7 ± 0.1 Cerebellar white 0.043 ± 0.002 1.6 ± 0.2 Heart 0.45 ± 0.02 0.72 ± 0.06 Liver 9.3 ± 0.1 21.8 ± 1.4  Spleen 3.6 ± 0.1 19.1 ± 0.8  Lung 1.7 ± 0.4 2.8 ± 0.4 Skeletal muscle 0.094 ± 0.004 0.12 ± 0.01 Fat 0.12 ± 0.01 0.14 ± 0.01 Data are mean ± SE (n = 3).

The selective transport of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein across the primate BBB in vivo, relative to the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, is shown in Table 5, which gives the brain uptake of the proteins expressed as % ID/100 grams. The uptake data are expressed as 100 grams of tissue, because the weight of the Rhesus monkey brain is 100 grams. However, the brain uptake parameters in Table 5 are not direct measures of the relative brain penetration of the HIRMAb-TNFR and TNFR:Fc fusion proteins, and the following considerations should be made. First, the brain uptake, or % ID/g, is a function of the plasma AUC of the protein. Normalizing the % ID/g by the plasma AUC values in Table 4 results in the computation of the organ PS product, and the PS products are shown in FIG. 13 for brain and in Table 7 for peripheral organs. Second, the brain uptake, or % ID/g, must be corrected for the organ blood volume. Organ uptake values for a given protein could reflect simply sequestration of the protein in the blood space of the organ, which can vary widely between tissues. The organ blood volume factor is normalized by computation of the PS product for a blood volume marker, such as human IgG1, which is the isotype control of the HIRMAb. The BBB PS product for human IgG1 is shown in FIG. 13. The equivalence of the BBB PS product for human IgG1 and the TNFR:Fc fusion protein is quantitative evidence that the TNFR:Fc fusion protein does not cross the BBB. Computation of a PS product for a brain blood volume marker, such as human IgG1 or the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, is an approximation since the actual PS product for either protein, after correction for the brain blood volume, is zero. Third, the high BBB PS product for the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein (FIG. 13) could reflect sequestration of the fusion protein by the brain microvasculature, and not actual transcytosis across the BBB and penetration into brain parenchyma. For this reason, the capillary depletion analysis was performed. The high VD of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein in the post-vascular supernatant, and low VD in the vascular pellet (Table 6), demonstrates that >90% of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein taken up by brain has penetrated into the post-vascular parenchyma. The homogenate VD of the TNFR:Fc fusion protein. 13±3 uL/g (Table 6), is equal to the brain blood volume, which is further evidence that the TNFR:Fc fusion protein does not cross the BBB in the blood to brain direction.

The PS products of the HIRMAb-TNFR and TNFR:Fc fusion proteins were also computed for peripheral organs (Table 7). The ratio of the PS product for the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, relative to the PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, for brain and peripheral organs is plotted in FIG. 14. These data show that the ratio of the PS product for the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein, relative to the PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, is near unity for peripheral organs such as heart, lung, skeletal muscle, and fat, is modestly elevated 2- to 5-fold for organs such as liver or spleen, and is selectively, and markedly, elevated for brain (FIG. 14). The PS product ratio in brain, 30, is an under-estimate, since the actual BBB PS product for the TNFR:Fc fusion protein is zero.

The pharmacokinetic (PK) and brain uptake data for the primate allow for initial dosing considerations of therapeutic interventions with the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein. The brain uptake, 3.0% ID/100 gram (Table 5), at an injection dose of 0.2 mg/kg, produces a brain concentration of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein of 1.1 pmol/gram fusion protein, which is equivalent to 2.2 pmol/gram, since there are 2 TNFR moieties per individual fusion protein (FIG. 1). The concentration of immunoreactive TNFα in normal brain is undetectable, but increases to 0.4 pmol/gram in traumatic brain injury [E. Shohami, M. Novikov, R. Bass, A. Yamin, and R. Gallily. Closed head injury triggers early production of TNF alpha and IL-6 by brain tissue. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 14: 615-9 (1994)]. Since the affinity of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein for TNFα is high (FIG. 4B), a low dose of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein of 0.2 mg/kg will sequester most of the cerebral TNFα in brain in traumatic brain injury. Higher doses of the fusion protein would sequester essentially 100% of the TNFα in brain in pathologic conditions.

In summary, the experimentation demonstrates that the re-engineering of a model decoy receptor pharmaceutical, the TNFR, as a fusion protein with a BBB molecular Trojan horse, the HIRMAb, produces a new chemical entity that rapidly penetrates the BBB in vivo. In contrast, the TNFR:Fc fusion protein, which represents the present state of the art, does not cross the BBB. The cerebral concentrations of the HIRMAb-TNFR fusion protein that are generated following the administration of relatively low systemic doses is sufficient to sequester nearly all of the target cytokine in the brain in pathologic conditions.

Example 10 Variation of Human Constant Regions

The domain structure of the HC of the fusion protein, including the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) and framework regions (FR) of the chimeric HIRMAb HC are given in FIG. 10. The constant region is also shown in FIG. 10, and is derived from human IgG1. The amino acid sequence of the C-region comprising the CH1, hinge, CH2, and CH3 domains is given in FIG. 10. The domain structure of the LC, including the CDRs and FRs of the chimeric HIRMAb LC is given in FIG. 11. The constant region is derived from human kappa LC, and the amino acid sequence comprising the human kappa constant region is shown in FIG. 11.

The constant (C)-region of the HIRMAb HC-TNFR fusion protein is comprised of amino acids 133 to 461 of SEQ ID NO. 4, and is derived from the human IgG1 isotype. In addition, the heavy chain C-region could be derived from the C-region of other human IgG1 isotypes, including human IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. The different C-region isotypes each offer well known advantages or disadvantages pertaining to flexibility around the hinge region, protease sensitivity, activation of complement or binding to the Fc receptor. The C-region of the HIRMAb LC is comprised of amino acids 129 to 234 in SEQ ID NO. 6, and is from the human kappa isotype. In addition, the light chain C-region could be derived from the human lambda light chain isotype.

Example 11 Treatment of Brain Diseases with the HIRMAb-TNFR Fusion Protein

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a pathogenetic role in acute and chronic disorders of the brain. Both TNF-α, and the TNFR are up-regulated in brain ischemia (Lambertsen et al, (2007) Neurosci., 144:934-949). The trans-cranial administration of the TNFR extracellular domain (ECD) reduces the size of the infarct in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model (Nawashiro et al, (1997), Brain Res., 778:265-271). The TNFR ECD must be injected directly into brain, because the soluble decoy receptor is a large molecule that does not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In spinal cord injury (SCI), the intra-thecal administration of a fusion protein of human IgG1 Fc fragment and the ECD of the human TNFR type II reduces the neuropathic pain associated with the SCI (Marchand et al, (2008), Eur. J. Pain, 1-12). Similarly, the trans-cranial administration of the TNFR-II:Fc fusion protein in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) model is therapeutic (Knoblach et al, (1999), J. Neuroimmunol., 95:115-125). However, the intravenous administration of the TNFR:Fc fusion protein in TBI is not therapeutic (Knoblach et al, (1999), J. Neuroimmunol., 95:115-125), because the molecule does not cross the BBB. In addition to acute brain disorders, such as ischemia or brain or spinal cord injury, the use of the BBB transportable TNFR:Fc fusion proteins may also be therapeutic in chronic neurodegeneration (Tweedie et al, (2007), Curr. Alzheimer Res., 4:375-378).

Example 12 Treatment of Brain Cancer with a MAb-VEGFR Decoy Receptor Fusion Protein

A decoy vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor (VEGF):Fc fusion protein can be engineered and expressed (Holash et al, (2002), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 99:11393-11398). The VEGF:Fc fusion protein would be expected to sequester endogenous VEGF, which is a growth factor for new vessel growth. Such pharmaceuticals may have particular use as anti-angiogenesis factors in cancer, including brain cancer. However, the VEGF:Fc fusion protein is a large molecule drug, which would not be expected to cross the BBB (Pardridge, (2008), Bioconj. Chem., (19:1327-1338). What is needed is a re-engineering of the VEGFR decoy receptor as an IgG fusion protein, such as that depicted in FIG. 1 for the TNFR. Such a form of the VEGF would penetrate the human BBB via transport on the endogenous insulin receptor. Once across the BBB, the MAb-VEGR fusion protein would then sequester VEGF within the brain, behind the BBB, and reduce new vessel growth in brain cancer.

Example 13 Treatment of Brain Ischemia with a MAb-Fn14 Decoy Receptor Fusion Protein

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the TNF gene family. The TWEAK receptor is a membrane protein called Fn14. Soluble Fn14 decoy receptors have been engineered as Fc fusion proteins, wherein the ECD of the Fn14 is fused to the amino terminus of the human IgG1 Fc fragment. The TWEAK:Fc fusion protein reduces the size of the stroke in a middle cerebral artery occlusion model; the TWEAK:Fc fusion protein must be administered to the brain via a trans-cranial injection (Yepes et al, (2005), Am. J. Pathol., 166:511-520; Zhang et al, (2007), J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab., 27:534-544), since this large molecule pharmaceutical does not cross the BBB. However, it is not practical to drill a hole in the head to administer acute stroke therapies in humans. Therefore, what is needed is a re-engineering of the Fn14 decoy receptor as an IgG-Fn14 fusion protein, wherein the Fn14 ECD is fused to the carboxyl terminus of a BBB penetrating IgG, such as that shown in FIG. 1. Such a protein could be given non-invasively via intravenous injection, followed by receptor-mediated transport across the BIB into the ischemic brain.

Example 14 Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with a MAb-LtαR Decoy Receptor Fusion Protein

Lymphotoxin α (LTα) is also known as TNFα, and can form a hetero-trimeric complex in the membrane with lymphotoxin β (Ltβ). The Ltβ complex activates the Ltβ receptor (LtβR) to initiate intracellular signal transduction phenomenon and an inflammatory cascade. The LtβR ECD may act as a decoy receptor and sequester endogenous Ltβ, which could be therapeutic in brain disease. A LtβR:Fc fusion protein is therapeutic in experimental demyelination (Plant et al. 2007), and may be therapeutic in human demyelination, such as multiple sclerosis. However, a LtβR:Fc fusion protein would not be expected to cross the human BBB. The LtβR decoy receptor can be re-engineered as a MAb-LtβR fusion protein, such as that depicted in FIG. 1. Such a fusion protein would cross the BBB and sequester endogenous Ltβ within the brain, behind the BBB.

Example 15 Treatment of Neuro-AIDS with a MAb-TRAIL-R Decoy Receptor Fusion Protein

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an inflammatory cytokine, and acts via binding to the TRAIL receptor (TRAIL-R). TRAIL plays a pathologic role in the dementia of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), following infection of neurons in the brain by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 (Ryan et al, (2004), J. Neuroimmunol., 148:127-139). A new approach to the treatment of the neurological manifestations of AIDS, or neuro-AIDS, may be the sequestration of TRAIL in brain with a soluble TRAIL-R decoy receptor. However, the ECD of the TRAIL-R, or its Fc fusion protein would not penetrate the brain, owing to lack of transport across the BBB. This problem could be solved by re-engineering the TRAIL-R decoy receptor as a MAb-TRAIL-R fusion protein, such as that depicted in FIG. 1. The MAb-TRAIL-R fusion protein would undergo receptor-mediated transport across the BBB, and enter brain, where the fusion protein would sequester TRAIL within the brain.

Example 16 Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with a MAb-IL6-R Decoy Receptor Fusion Protein

Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, may play a role in demyleinating diseases, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), or multiple sclerosis. The IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) could suppress the action of endogenous IL-6 within the brain following the administration of a soluble IL-6R decoy receptor protein. The administration of the IL-6R:Fc fusion protein, wherein the ECD of IL-6R is fused to the amino terminus of the human IgG1 Fc fragment, is therapeutic in EAE (Linker et al, (2008), J. Neuroimmunol., 205:64-72). However, the penetration of the IL-6R:Fc fusion protein into the brain in multiple sclerosis may be limited, owing to lack of transport through the BBB in vivo. In contrast, a MAb-IL-6R fusion protein, such as that depicted in FIG. 1, could penetrate the BBB via receptor-mediated transport, and thereby sequester endogenous IL-6 in the brain, behind the BBB.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. 

1.-56. (canceled)
 57. A method for delivering a decoy receptor across the blood brain barrier, comprising systemically administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bifunctional decoy receptor fusion antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain immunoglobulin or a light chain immunoglobulin covalently linked to the amino acid sequence of a receptor extracellular domain, wherein the fusion antibody binds to a receptor expressed on the BBB and the ligand for the receptor extracellular domain.
 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the receptor expressed on the BBB is an insulin receptor, a transferrin receptor, an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, a leptin receptor, or a lipoprotein receptor.
 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the receptor expressed on the BBB is the insulin receptor.
 60. The method of claim 57, wherein the receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor, a TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, a TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) receptor, an IL-6 receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, or an ephrin receptor.
 61. The method of claim 57, wherein the receptor extracellular domain is from a TNF-α receptor.
 62. The method of claim 61, wherein the extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin or the light chain immunoglobulin.
 63. The method of claim 61, wherein the extracellular domain from a TNF-α receptor is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain immunoglobulin.
 64. The method of claim 57, wherein the systemic administration treats a CNS condition.
 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the CNS condition is an acute CNS condition.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein the acute CNS condition is global brain ischemia, local brain ischemia, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury.
 67. The method of claim 64, wherein the CNS condition is a chronic CNS condition.
 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the chronic CNS condition is a neurodegenerative CNS condition.
 69. The method of claim 68, wherein the neurodegenerative condition is Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, motor neuron disease, Pick's disease, tuberous sclerosis, Canavan's disease, Rett's syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxias, Friedreich's ataxia, optic atrophy, or retinal degeneration. 